Citation

Reynolds TA, Stewart B, Drewett I, Salerno S, Sawe H, Toroyan T, Mock C. Annu. Rev. Public Health 2017; 38: 507-532.

Affiliation

Department of Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105 and Department Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98105; email: cmock@u.washington.edu.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Annual Reviews)

DOI

10.1146/annurev-publhealth-032315-021412

PMID

28125389

Abstract

Injury is a leading cause of death globally, and organized trauma care systems have been shown to save lives. However, even though most injuries occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), most trauma care research comes from high-income countries where systems have been implemented with few resource constraints. Little context-relevant guidance exists to help policy makers set priorities in LMICs, where resources are limited and where trauma care may be implemented in distinct ways. We have aimed to review the evidence on the impact of trauma care systems in LMICs through a systematic search of 11 databases. Reports were categorized by intervention and outcome type and summarized. Of 4,284 records retrieved, 71 reports from 32 countries met inclusion criteria. Training, prehospital systems, and overall system organization were the most commonly reported interventions. Quality-improvement, costing, rehabilitation, and legislation and governance were relatively neglected areas. Included reports may inform trauma care system planning in LMICs, and noted gaps may guide research and funding agendas. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Public Health Volume 38 is March 20, 2017. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

Language: en