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Firearm injuries among children due to the Kivu conflict from 2017 to 2020: A hospital-based retrospective descriptive cohort study.
Murhega, Romeo Bujiriri; Budema, Paul Munguakonkwa; Tshimbombu, Tshibambe Nathanael; Toha, Georges Kuyigwa; Cikomola, Fabrice Gulimwentuga; Mudekereza, Paterne Safari; Mubenga, Léon-Emmanuel; Balemba, Ghislain Maheshe; Badesire, Darck Cubaka; Negida, Ahmed; Kanmounye, Ulrick Sidney.
Afiliación
  • Murhega RB; Department of Surgery, Provincial General Reference Hospital of Bukavu, Bukavu, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
  • Budema PM; Faculty of Medicine, Université Catholique de Bukavu, Bukavu, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
  • Tshimbombu TN; Research Department, Association of Future African Neurosurgeons, Yaounde, Cameroon.
  • Toha GK; Department of Surgery, Provincial General Reference Hospital of Bukavu, Bukavu, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
  • Cikomola FG; Faculty of Medicine, Université Catholique de Bukavu, Bukavu, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
  • Mudekereza PS; Research Department, Association of Future African Neurosurgeons, Yaounde, Cameroon.
  • Mubenga LE; Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA.
  • Balemba GM; Department of Surgery, Provincial General Reference Hospital of Bukavu, Bukavu, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
  • Badesire DC; Faculty of Medicine, Université Catholique de Bukavu, Bukavu, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
  • Negida A; Department of Surgery, Provincial General Reference Hospital of Bukavu, Bukavu, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
  • Kanmounye US; Faculty of Medicine, Université Catholique de Bukavu, Bukavu, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Afr J Emerg Med ; 12(1): 44-47, 2022 Mar.
Article en En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35070653
INTRODUCTION: Firearm-related injuries are deadly but avoidable. The case of Kivu, a region in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), is alarming. Decades of unresolved regional conflicts birthed armed groups that have massacred inhabitants and injured several children. This regional instability has also created barriers to seeking and obtaining timely care, decreasing the survival rate. This region's lack of data on paediatric fatal and nonfatal firearm injuries (F&NFFIs) needs studying. Thus, we aim to determine the prevalence and evaluate the outcomes of paediatric F&NFFIs in Kivu. METHODS: We included all F&NFFI paediatric patients (≤18 years), admitted at our institution between 2017 and 2020. We extracted data from patient records. Next, we assessed the relationship between determinants of paediatric outcomes using the Chi-square test and the student's t-test. Confounders were identified using cox regression. RESULTS: This study included 101 paediatric patients, mostly male (63.4%), with an average age of 15.9 years residing 164.4 km on average from the hospital. On average, they were admitted 2.9 days post-injury, with the most affected anatomical regions being lower limbs (53.5%) and upper limbs (18.8%). The mean length of stay was 52.9 days, and the mortality rate was 4.0%. Also, injury complications increased the mean length of stay and mortality rate. In addition, mortality was correlated with circulatory failure and anaemia. DISCUSSION: Paediatric F&NFFIs in Eastern DRC is a preventable tragedy. Mortality is increased by injury complications and correlates with some biological factors. Prevention strategies should be developed to protect children and appropriate measures should be established to improve rates of prehospital care and early hospital presentation to lower mortality and improve paediatric outcomes.
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Texto completo: 1 Colección: 01-internacional Base de datos: MEDLINE Tipo de estudio: Etiology_studies / Observational_studies / Prognostic_studies / Risk_factors_studies Idioma: En Revista: Afr J Emerg Med Año: 2022 Tipo del documento: Article País de afiliación: República Democrática del Congo Pais de publicación: Países Bajos

Texto completo: 1 Colección: 01-internacional Base de datos: MEDLINE Tipo de estudio: Etiology_studies / Observational_studies / Prognostic_studies / Risk_factors_studies Idioma: En Revista: Afr J Emerg Med Año: 2022 Tipo del documento: Article País de afiliación: República Democrática del Congo Pais de publicación: Países Bajos