Maria Sheena Villareal¹, Maritza Oliva Perez¹*, Genalin Ang¹, Zulfikar Bux² and Emanuel Cummings¹

¹School of Medicine, College of Medical Sciences, University of Guyana, Guyana
²Accidents and Emergency Department, Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, Guyana

*Corresponding Author: Maritza Oliva Perez, Senior Lecturer, School of Medicine, College of Medical Sciences, University of Guyana, Guyana.

Received: February 28, 2025; Published: March 24, 2025

Abstract

Trauma-related injuries (TRIs) have become a significant global health concern, with road accidents ranking among the top causes of mortality, particularly in individuals aged 5-29 years. The World Health Organization highlights that at least one in five leading causes of TRIs are linked to road accidents, which claim more lives than many other health conditions. This issue affects both high- and low-income countries, contributing to a growing burden on health resources. In Guyana, the situation mirrors global trends, with a notable increase in TRIs, primarily from road accidents. This prompted an investigation into the prevalence of trauma-related cases at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), the country’s main referral hospital. A retrospective analysis was conducted on cross-sectional data from the GPHC trauma registry, focusing on patients treated at the Accident and Emergency Department in the second half of 2022. The study aimed to identify prevalent types of TRIs and their distribution across patient demographics. The study included 713 trauma cases, with an average incidence rate of 3.4%. The leading cause of injury was road accidents, accounting for 28.1% of cases, followed by interpersonal/domestic violence (21.7%) and falls (21%). Male patients made up the majority of admissions, with 36% of cases being treated in male surgical wards. Soft tissue injuries were the most common trauma type, slightly more prevalent among females (52.2%) than males (42.1%). More severe injuries, such as stabs, punctures, and gunshot wounds, were significantly higher among males (18.2%) compared to females (4.5%). The analysis identified adults aged 25-44, with a mean age of 33, as the most frequently injured group. Road accidents were the predominant cause of injury for both genders, while interpersonal/domestic violence was more common among males, and falls were more frequent among females. The study highlights the urgent need for further research, particularly multi-year analyses, to detect long-term patterns in trauma cases. Such insights are crucial for improving preparedness and tailoring interventions to meet evolving needs. The findings offer valuable information for developing targeted educational initiatives and strategies to reduce injury-related mortality and morbidity in Guyana.

Keywords: Trauma-Related Injuries; Road Accidents; Motor Vehicular Accidents; Injury Prevalence; Emergency Department Injuries; Trauma Registry

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Citation

Citation: Maritza Oliva Perez., et al. “A Retrospective Analysis of the Incidence of Trauma-Related Injuries in the Premier Public Hospital in Georgetown, Guyana".Acta Scientific Medical Sciences 9.4 (2025): 98-110.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2025 Maritza Oliva Perez., et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.