Injury patterns in rural and urban Uganda
O Kobusingye1, D Guwatudde, R Lett
1Department of Surgery, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda. olive@imul.com
Objectives:
To describe and contrast injury patterns in rural and urban Uganda.
Settings:
One rural and one urban community in Uganda.
Methods:
Community health workers interviewed adult respondents in households selected by multistage sampling, using a standardized questionnaire.
Results:
In the rural setting, 1,673 households, with 7,427 persons, were surveyed. Injuries had an annual mortality rate of 92/100,000 persons, and disabilities a prevalence proportion of 0.7%. In the urban setting 2,322 households, with 10,982 people, were surveyed. Injuries had an annual mortality rate of 217/100,000, and injury disabilities a prevalence proportion of 2.8%. The total incidence of fatal, disabling, and recovered injuries was 116/1,000/year. Leading causes of death were drowning in the rural setting, and road traffic in the city.
Conclusion:
Injuries are a substantial burden in Uganda, with much higher rates than those in most Western countries. The urban population is at a higher risk than the rural population, and the patterns of injury differ. Interventions to control injuries should be a priority in Uganda.
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