Patterns of trauma injuries in rural versus urban Jamaica

ABSTRACT

Trauma admissions to St Ann's Bay Hospital in rural Jamaica and The University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) in the capital city of Kingston are compared. Trauma accounted for 19 and 22 of surgical admissions to UHWI and the St Ann's Bay Hospital, respectively. Sixty-three per cent of trauma cases admitted to the St Ann's Bay Hospital and 56 to the UHWI were due to unintentional injuries (95 CI, -0.05, 0.19). The main cause of unintentional injuries at both hospitals was motor vehicle accidents, accounting for 43 and 37 at UHWI and St Ann's Bay Hospital respectively (95 CI, -0.04, 0.17). The prevalence of falls was significantly higher in St Ann's Bay Hospital compared with UHWI, 41 and 26 respectively (95 CI, 0.10, 0.21). Intentional injuries accounted for 37 of cases in St Ann's Bay Hospital and 44 at UHWI (95 CI, -0.20, 0.04). The prevalence of firearm injuries was significantly higher at the UHWI than in St Ann's Bay Hospital, 55 and 18 respectively (95 CI, -0.15, -0.05). There was no significant difference in age and injury severity scores in the two hospitals but patients remained in hospital significantly longer at UHWI.