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Pedestrian traffic injuries among school children in Kawempe, Uganda
Mable T Nakitto1, Milton Mutto, Andrew Howard
1Injury Control Centre-Uganda, Old Mulago Hospital, P. O. Box 7072, Kampala. iccu@infocom.co.ug
Insights
In Uganda, approximately 0.5% of school children experience traffic injuries annually. Interventions focusing on safer routes and road crossing education are crucial to reduce pedestrian traffic incidents.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Pediatric Safety
Background:
- Traffic injuries pose a significant public health challenge in low-income countries.
- In Kampala, Uganda, road traffic incidents are the leading cause of injury, disproportionately affecting pedestrians and children.
- Pedestrian injuries among school children in Uganda represent a critical area for intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To ascertain the overall risk of pedestrian traffic injury among school children in Kawempe, Uganda.
- To quantify the incidence of traffic-related injuries in a cohort of primary school students.
- To identify key factors associated with pedestrian traffic injuries in the study population.
Main Methods:
- A cohort study involving 8,165 primary school children across 35 schools in Kawempe, Uganda.
- Data on traffic incidents and injuries were collected by teachers using questionnaires over three school terms.
- Demographic characteristics and injury outcomes were recorded, and cumulative incidences were calculated.
Main Results:
- A cumulative incidence of 0.5% of pedestrian traffic injury was observed over the academic year.
- Commercial motorcycles (40%) and bicycles (41%) were the most common vehicles involved in incidents.
- 25% of injuries were serious, requiring healthcare facility attention; no fatalities were reported.
Conclusions:
- Nearly 0.5% of school children in Kawempe are involved in traffic incidents each school year.
- Urgent interventions are needed to mitigate the high rate of pedestrian traffic injuries.
- Recommendations include creating safer routes, enhancing road crossing education for children, and improving safety regulations for two-wheeled vehicles.
Background:
Traffic injuries are an important problem in low income countries. In Uganda road traffic is the largest single cause of injury in Kampala; pedestrians, and children are most affected. Pedestrian injury affects school children in Uganda.
Objective:
To determine the overall risk of pedestrian traffic injury among school children in Kawempe, Uganda.
Methods:
A cohort was assembled at 35 primary schools and followed for 3 terms. Ten of the schools had participated in previous injury programs, others were systematically selected. Injuries were recorded by teachers using a questionnaire. Data collected included ID, school, age, grade, gender, incident date, vehicle type, and injury outcome. Demographic characteristics are described and cumulative incidences calculated.
Results:
The cohort included 8,165 children (49% male) from 35 primary schools. The mean age was 9 years (Sd=2.78). Of the 35 schools, 92% were day; the others mixed day and boarding. 53 children (27 girls) were involved in a traffic incident. 25% of the injuries reported were serious and warranted care in a health facility. No deaths occurred. Forty % of incidents involved commercial motorcycles, 41% bicycles, 9% cars, 8% taxis, and 2% trucks. The cumulative incidence was 0.168% each term. Over the 3 terms of the year the cumulative incidence was 0.5 +/- 0.02. There were no gender differences in the cumulative incidence.
Conclusion:
Each school year about 1/2 % of Kawempe school children are involved in a traffic incident. Interventions are necessary to reduce the unacceptably high incidents of pedestrian traffic. Interventions to alleviate this situation including safer routes, teaching skills of road crossing to children as well as better regulation and road safety education to two wheelers could reduce the unacceptably high incidents of pedestrian traffic injury.
