Severe Road Traffic Injuries in Kenya, Quality of Care and Access

• Published in: African health sciences Vol. 9; no. 2; pp. 118 - 124
• Main Authors: Macharia, W.M, Njeru, E.K, Muli-Musiime, F, Nantulya, V
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Uganda Makerere University Medical School 01-06-2009; Makerere Medical School
• Subjects: Accidents, Traffic - statistics & numerical data; Adolescent; Adult; Cross-Sectional Studies; Emergency Service, Hospital - organization & administration; Female; Health and Medicine; Health care access; Health Care Delivery; Health Services Accessibility; Hospital Costs; Hospitalization - economics; Humans; Kenya; Kenyans; Male; Middle Aged; Original; Quality of Health Care; Socioeconomic Factors; Traffic accidents & safety; Wounds and Injuries - therapy; Young Adult; Kenya; Africa
• ISSN: 1680-6905; 1729-0503

Background: Road traffic injuries (RTI) are on increase in developing
countries. Health care facilities are poorly equipped to provide the
needed services. Objective: Determine access and quality of care for
RTI casualties in Kenya. Design: Cross-sectional survey Setting: 53
large and medium size private, faith-based and public hospitals.
Participants: In-patient road traffic crash casualties and health
personnel in the selected hospitals were interviewed on availability of
emergency care and resources. Onsite verification of status was
undertaken. Results: Out of 310 RTI casualties interviewed, 72.3%,
15.6% and 12.2% were in public, faith-based and private hospitals,
respectively. Peak age of the injured was 15-49 years. First aid was
availed to 16.0% of casualties. Unknown persons transported 76.5% of
the injured. Police and ambulance vehicles transported 6.1% and 1.4%,
respectively. 51.9% reached health facilities within 30 minutes of
crash and medical care provided to 66.2% within one hour. 40.8% of
recipient facilities were adequately prepared for RTI emergencies.
Conclusions: Most RTI casualties were young and from poor backgrounds.
Training of motorists and general public in first aid should be
considered in RTI control initiatives. Availability of basic trauma
care medical supplies in public health facilities was highly deficient.