PATTERNS AND DETERMINANTS OF PRE-HOSPITAL CARE AMONG TRAUMA PATIENTS TREATED IN TIKUR ANBESSA SPECIALIZED HOSPITAL, EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT.

BACKGROUND: Injury remains the major cause of death and disability worldwide, and places an enormous burden on countries with limited resources in which Ethiopia is included. OBJECTIVE: It is obvious that pre-hospital care is a essential part of the treatment process in many acute disease and trauma. METHODS: Cross sectional study design using structured interviewing questionnaire which was conducted in 437 Trauma patients who came to emergency department of Tikur Anbesa Specialized Hospital from February 1 to March 30, 2013. RESULTS: Only 73 (16.7%) patients got some kind of basic cars like stop bleeding, positioning, immobilization by ambulance staff 41 (51.2%), relatives 24 (30%) and police and bystanders 14 (20.3%). Commonest means of transportation in which 59% of cases arrived by taxi while about 14.4% were brought in by ambulance. Most patients arrived to definitive care from the scene after are (the golden) hour of injury, has passed; only 81 (18.5%) of patients arrived in less than and within one hour. CONCLUSION: Proportion of patients, who received care before they arrived in the hospital was very small. Time of arrival to definitive care was prolonged and use of ambulances for transportation was minimal.