A Multinational Injury Surveillance System Pilot Project in Africa

Abstract

This paper describes the development of a pilot project to test the implementation of an epidemiological surveillance system for intentional (violent) and non-intentional injuries, at emergency departments in selected hospitals in five African countries applying the World Health Organization's guidelines. We outline obstacles and opportunities encountered during the process. By definition, a surveillance system systematically collects, reviews, and evaluates information to understand the context in which specific injuries occur. Implementation in diverse sociocultural environments in Zambia, Uganda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, and Kenya has provided an opportunity to gather reliable data on injuries for comparisons between these countries. Analysis of the detailed information may permit researchers to generate evidence-based recommendations. Addressed to public authorities, and health authorities in particular, they can help address injury incidence in their communities from a public health perspective.

Opportunities and Challenges for Implementing Neurotrauma Prevention Program: A Practical Perspective for Developing Countries

“…7 To overcome these limitations, low cost strategies can be planned to at least have minimum data sets (from hospitals as well as from the communities) to support the neurotrauma care. [8][9][10][11][12] These low cost strategies are needed to be developed not only to collect data but also to develop methods for imparting patient care. [13][14][15] In the meantime, lessons can be learned by understanding and reviewing the existing research evidence.…”

Challenges of establishing a road traffic injury surveillance system: a qualitative study in a middle-income country

“…18-20 There is a clear need for a national road traffic injury surveillance to coordinate all organizations’ activities. 21,22…”

“…[18][19][20] There is a clear need for a national road traffic injury surveillance to coordinate all organizations' activities. 21,22 Injury surveillance has the potential to identify the trends, the populations at risk, injury mechanism and the risk factors in order to design and evaluate priorities in injury prevention and evaluate the effectiveness of interventions. 14 Due to the importance of this system, there are few examples of establishing a road traffic surveillance system, 12,13 which suffers from under reporting.…”