@article{ref1,
title="Temporal changes in trauma according to alcohol sale restrictions during the south African national COVID-19 lockdown",
journal="African journal of emergency medicine",
year="2021",
author="Van Hoving, D. J. and van Koningsbruggen, C. and De Man, M. and Hendrikse, C.",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="Introduction The South African government enforced various alcohol sale restrictions during the COVID-19 lockdown in order to reduce hospital admissions related to alcohol-associated injuries. A cross-sectional study was performed to describe the temporal changes in trauma according to alcohol sale restrictions during the South African national COVID-19 lockdown.  Methods Data from all trauma-related patients presenting to the emergency centre of Mitchells Plain Hospital from 01/03/2020 till 29/9/2020 and corresponding periods during 2019 were exported from an existing database. The relationship between variables was determined with the χ2-test, Fisher's exact test, independent samples median test or t-test. A sub-analysis compared similar 2020 lockdown levels when a second alcohol ban were instituted while most business were allowed to operate (level 3b - alcohol banned versus level 3 - alcohol restricted).  Results Total number of trauma presentations were 539 (14.6%) less in 2020 (n = 3160) than in 2019 (n = 3699); the mean number decreased by 2.5 per day (95% CI −2.9 to −2.1). Lockdown levels with an alcohol ban had on average 4.8 less patients per day than corresponding periods in 2019 (p < 0.001). No significant difference was observed in lockdown levels with alcohol sale restrictions (mean difference per day −0.4, p = 0.195). Trauma presentations increased significantly (mean difference per day 7.0 (95% CI 6.5 to 7.5)) from 2020 lockdown levels with alcohol sales ban (mean per day 11.4) to 2020 lockdown levels with alcohol sale restrictions (mean per day 18.4). Significantly less patients (mean −3.2 (95% CI −3.9 to −2.5)) presented during 2020 lockdown level 3b (alcohol sales banned, mean 13.9) compared to level 3 (alcohol sales restricted, mean 17.1).  Conclusion Temporal changes in trauma were observed according to alcohol sale restrictions during South Africa's COVID-19 lockdown periods. Significantly less trauma cases presented during periods with an alcohol ban compared to periods where alcohol sales were only restricted.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="2211-419X",
doi="10.1016/j.afjem.2021.08.001",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.afjem.2021.08.001"
}