PATTERNS OF NON-FATAL ROAD TRAFFIC INJURIES IN CAMEROON: THE CASE OF THE YAOUNDE INJURIES REPORTED IN THE YEAR 2011-2012 AT TEACHING HOSPITAL (CENTRE HOSPITALIER ET UNIVERSITAIRE DE YAOUNDÉ (CHU)

Road traffic injuries are among the leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Low income countries are disproportionately affected, including Cameroon. Despite the rise in road traffic injuries, there is a significant gap in understanding of the patterns of injury. This study was conducted to explore the characteristics and patterns of non-fatal RTI in the Yaounde Teaching Hospital (Centre Hospitalier et Universitaire de Yaoundé) in Cameroon. The study was a quantitative retrospective study based on the hospital records of patients presenting at the Surgical and Emergency units of the Yaounde Teaching Hospital between January 2011 and December 2012. Univariate and bivariate analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS version 20. In addition, health personnel (N = 15) involved in the care of patients were interviewed on their perspectives on road traffic patients using semi-structured questionnaires. The files of 694 patients admitted for non-fatal RTI were reviewed. Of these patients, 71.1% (N = 475) were male and 28.9% (N = 196) were female with a mean age of 32 years. The most common mode of transport used at the time of injury was a motorised 2-wheel vehicle (33.7%, N = 234). Car and pick-up 4x4 (39.3%, N = 273) were reported as the most frequent colliding counterpart. Musculoskeletal injuries were the most frequent injuries (29.3%, N = 203). There was a statistically significant difference between the body part injured and the mode of transport (X2(df = 9 N = 572) = 0.29). The average duration of hospitalisation was 6days. Persons who sustained head and neck injuries stayed longer in the hospital compared to those with other injuries. The months of December and August recorded highest numbers of injuries over the study period (N = 69, 10.2% each). In interviews health personnel described frequency of road traffic injuries at the hospital as regular. Financial barriers and lack of knowledge were identified as the most common patient-related factors hindering patients from seeking early health care. Reported hospital barriers to care were cost, availability of bed space and lack of appropriate equipment. There is a high burden of non-fatal road traffic injuries in the urban city of Yaounde Cameroon. There is need to increase and improve measures for road safety. In addition, further research is needed to better understand the true burden of such injuries in Cameroon.