Road Traffic Injury Characteristics, Severity, and Management Outcome among Victims Treated at the Emergency Department of Jimma Medical Center, Jimma, Ethiopia, 2024

BACKGROUND: Road traffic injuries (RTIs) are a significant public health and development challenge. This study assessed injury characteristics, severity, and management outcomes of RTI victims at Jimma Medical Center, Jimma, Ethiopia. METHOD: A retrospective chart review was conducted on RTI victims treated at the Emergency Department of Jimma Medical Center between September 2021 and June 2022. The World Health Organization’s Road traffic injury surveillance tool and the Kampala Trauma Score II (KTS II) were used to evaluate injury severity. Data were entered using EpiData version 3.4 and analyzed with SPSS version 20. Descriptive statistics and cross-tabulations were used in the analysis. RESULTS: Of the 391 victims included, 270 (69.1%) were male, with a median age of 25 years. Pedestrians (52.9%, n=207) were the most affected group, followed by drivers (17.4%, n=68). Cars accounted for over half of the accidents (52.2%, n=204), while motorcycles were involved in 31.7% (n=124). Musculoskeletal (35.5%) and head injuries (25.6%) were the most common. Severe injuries were reported in 62.2% (n=140) of cases. Fewer than half (44.5%, n=174) of the victims were transported by ambulance, and only 21% (n=82) received first aid from healthcare providers. Most victims (93.5%, n=359) survived, while 6.4% (n=25) died. CONCLUSION: RTIs present a considerable burden in this setting with pedestrians mostly affected. Targeted interventions should address road safety, enhance pre-hospital care, and improve medical documentation. A multi-sectoral injury surveillance system and identification of key risk factors are essential for reducing RTI impacts.