Relationship between demographic characteristics and return-to-work for loss of income claimants at the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund, Botswana.

BACKGROUND: The Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) Fund Botswana compensates claimants who lose their incomes due to road traffic accidents. In Botswana, road traffic accidents are becoming more frequent, and the MVA Fund is experiencing escalating claims. We describe the demographic characteristics of loss of income (LOI) claimants of the MVA Fund Botswana. We assess whether demographic characteristics are related to return to work (RTW). OBJECTIVE: We retrospectively reviewed records of MVA Fund claimants and extracted demographic information. We investigated the demographic profile and the relationship between demographic information and RTW. METHODS: We reviewed 432 LOI claims received by MVA Fund from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2020. We descriptively analysed the demographic profiles of claimants. We used a univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression to determine the association between independent demographic variables and the dependent variable, RTW. RESULTS: MVA Fund claimants were on average 37-years-old. Claimants were mostly from low-income socio-economic backgrounds. RTW was significantly associated with injury severity, type of injury, and having a RTW plan offer. The final predictors of RTW, using logistic regression, were time away from work and severity of injury. CONCLUSION: In Botswana, claimants who had severe injuries and who stayed away from work for longer were less likely to RTW. The MVA Fund Botswana must recognise the demographic profiles of claimants which are likely to influence RTW.

Functional outcomes after flexor tendon repair of the hand.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate the hand function after flexor tendon repair (FTR) and to investigate factors associated with functional outcomes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between January 2013 and September 2015, a total of 126 patients (84 males, 42 females; mean age 31 years; range, 15 to 62 years) who underwent FTR due to flexor tendon injuries (FTIs) were included. The hand function was assessed using the Jebsen Hand Function Test (JHFT) and Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (Quick DASH) at three and six months following FTR. RESULTS: Of the patients, 94 (75%) and 72 (56%) completed the three-month and six-month assessment visits, respectively. A total of 65 patients (51.1%) had both three and six-month follow-up data. The patients regained a fair amount of power grip strength and more than half of their pinch grip strength compared to the unaffected hand. The results of assessment of hand function at activity and participation levels (JHFT and Quick DASH) showed slightly higher levels of disability. Of 41 patients who were employed prior to injury, 29 (71%) returned to work at six months after surgery. Zone IV injury and language barrier were associated with poor functional outcomes at six months. CONCLUSION: Our study results showed that the JHFT and Quick DASH scores of the patients were less than the established norms, although functional outcomes improved over time. Based on these results, we suggest that the presence of zone IV FTI and language barrier are associated with poor functional outcomes.