A Study to Determine the Prevalence of Traumatic Head Injuries in Zanzibar: Case Study of Mnazi Mmoja Hospital

Abstract

Introduction: Worldwide, traumatic head injuries account for a high degree of morbidity and mortality. Road accidents appear to be the commonest cause of these injuries. This study is aimed at assessing the prevalence and predictive factors of Traumatic head injury at a tertiary institution health facility in Zanzibar. Method: A retrospective observational study of  head injury patients that are attended  at Mnazi Mmoja Hospital, Zanzibar from May 2019 to May 2020 Results: A total number of 81 patients were included in the study and distributed as follows; 63 males (77.8%) and 18 females (22.2%) participants. The majority of patients were between the age group of 16-30 years and 40 (49.4%) in total. Road Traffic Accident was the leading cause of injuries (67.9%). Others include assault (13.6%), falling (13.6%), and being struck by an object (4.9%). The study also recorded a higher prevalence of traumatic brain injury TBI (57.9%), including, concussion (9.8%), contusion (18.5%), epidural hematoma (8.6%), skull fracture (14.8%), and subarachnoid hemorrhage (6.2%). This was compared with other causes of head injuries (42.1%) such as cut wounds (9.8%) and soft tissue injuries (32.1%). 64.2% of the patients were treated as outpatients, with 33.3% as inpatients. About 2.5% of the patients died. The west district recorded the highest prevalence of patients with injury rates compared to other districts. Conclusion: Public awareness campaigns and health promotions concerning road safety rules are needed to help reduce the high burden of road traffic accidents.  Government should also pay attention to the improvement of roads as a way to curb this menace.