ZENITH International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research
  • Year: 2013
  • Volume: 3
  • Issue: 8

Nonfatal unintentional injuries in a peri-urban community in Nigeria

  • Author:
  • Abiola O. Olaleye, Omolola O. Irinoye, Joel O. Faronbi, Adekunle O. Afolabi, Omorinola A. Omomuniniyi, Kenfack R. Azanfack
  • Total Page Count: 12
  • Page Number: 14 to 25

*MD, MPH, MWACP, MMCPH, School of Health Systems and Public Health, University of Pretoria, South Africa

**Department of Community Health, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile Ife, Nigeria

***RN, PH.D, Department of Nursing Science, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria

****PH.D, Department Of Nursing Science, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria

*****PH.D, Department Of Computer Science and Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria

******MPH, Department Of Community Health, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria

*******MSC, Department Of Computer Science and Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Nigeria

Online published on 11 April, 2014.

Abstract

Injury is an important public health problem worldwide. However, it is not a popular area of research and gaps exist in knowledge about nonfatal unintentional injuries in the community. Therefore, this study was conducted to describe the proportion of people with nonfatal unintentional injuries in a definite time interval, the site or place of injury, place of treatment, and perception about injury prevention.

A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in a peri-urban community in the Nigeria using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. With a systematic random sampling of seventy houses, two hundred and four participants were recruited. Data was entered and analysed with Stata version 12 and results described using descriptive and inferential statistics.

Most of the participants were females (58.8%). Majority of the participants (83.8%, 95 CI = 78.7 – 88.9) in this study had at least one episode of injury in the last one year. Most of the participants (38.6%) had the most recent injury within the last three months prior to the study. Most injuries were sustained and treated at home and 94.1% of the respondents believed nonfatal unintentional injuries can not be prevented. There was significant relationship between occurrence of injuries and age of participants, X2 (5, n=171) = 12.14, p<.05. However, there was no statistically significant relationship between gender and the time of the most recent injury in the study, X2 (4, n=171) = 2.11, p>.05.

There is need to strengthen knowledge and skills of individuals, promote community education about injury prevention in the community.

Keywords

Unintentional, nonfatal, injuries, community, home