Citation

Biribawa C, Kobusingye OC, Mugyenyi P, Baguma E, Bua E, Alitubeera PH, Tumwesigye NM. J. Australas. Coll. Road Saf. 2019; 30(4): 17-25.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Australasian College of Road Safety)

DOI

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PMID

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Uganda has a high rate of road traffic injuries (RTI). Alcohol use increases traffic injury risk and severity through impairment of road-use skills and hazard perception. Few studies have examined this problem in Uganda. We therefore assessed the prevalence and determinants of pre-injury alcohol use among road traffic injured patients at Mulago National Referral Hospital, Kampala Uganda.

METHODS: We enrolled 330 eligible adult RTI patients consecutively in a cross- sectional study, at the emergency department in Mulago National Referral Hospital from March-May, 2016. We assessed pre-injury alcohol use using BACtrack professional Breathalyzer, alcohol intoxication assessment tool and alcohol use self- report covering the period of 6 hours before the injury. We assessed injury severity using Glasgow Coma Scale and Kampala Trauma Score. We estimated prevalence ratios [PR] using modified Poisson regression.

RESULTS: Prevalence of pre-injury alcohol use among injured patients was 29.7%. Pedestrians (44%) had the greatest percentage of alcohol use when compared to other road users. Pre-injury alcohol use was associated with mortality at the Emergency Department, PR: 2.33 [1.39 - 3.9].

CONCLUSION and recommendations: Pre-injury alcohol use is high among pedestrians and yet prevention efforts target mostly motorists. Pre-injury alcohol use also resulted into increased mortality at Emergency Department. We recommend prevention efforts to not only target motorists but also pedestrians.

Key Findings
• Prevalence of pre-injury alcohol use was 29.7% among road traffic injured patients received at Mulago National Referral Hospital, Kampala Uganda
• Pedestrians were more likely to have used alcohol prior to injury compared to other road users, Prevalence ratio: 2.56 [CI: 1.20 - 5.48]
• Pre-injury alcohol use was associated with mortality at the emergency department, Prevalence ratio: 2.33[1.39 - 3.90]

Keywords
Alcohol, road traffic injuries, traffic deaths, pedestrians

Corresponding author:
Claire Biribawa, Department of Disease control and Environmental Health, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, P.O Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda.
Email: biribawaclaire@musph.ac.ug, Tel: +256777507827 / +256759027400

Language: en