The burden of trauma at a district hospital in Malawi

Trauma disproportionately affects low- and middle-income countries, many of which do not have the surveillance systems required to design effective prevention and treatment strategies. The aim of this study was to establish such a system at a district hospital in Malawi. Data on all trauma patients presenting to Mulanje District Hospital from 14 April 2013 to 30 December 2014 were collected using a form based on the core minimum data points for injuries recommended by the World Health Organization and an injury severity assessment. A total of 9073 trauma cases were recorded, accounting for 3.4% of patients that presented at the hospital during this period. Of them, 56.6% were boys/men, with the average age being 22.4 (range, 0.6-98 years). Falls (53.2%), animal bites (16.6%), road traffic injuries (11.1%) and assaults (10.2%) were the most prevalent causes, the majority of the former two taking place at home. Of the patients, 94.8% were treated and sent home, 5.0% were admitted and the remaining were either referred elsewhere or died.