Factors influencing injury or death due to traumatic events in Afghanistan’s crisis-affected populations: a cross-sectional nationwide study

Abstract

ObjectiveAfghanistan, with one of the world’s largest refugee populations, suffers an enormous burden of injury resulting in loss of life. This study aims to identify the epidemiology of injuries or death in the crisis-affected populations across Afghanistan and to investigate factors associated with injuries or deaths due to traumatic events.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingThis study analysed Whole Afghanistan Assessment 2019 data. This survey geographically covered all 34 accessible provinces in Afghanistan.Participants31 343 displaced and shock-affected households in Afghanistan.Primary and secondary outcome measuresInjury or death of household members due to traumatic events.Results2561 (8.2%) reported at least one household member had been injured or deceased because of a significant conflict or natural disaster in the past year. Households experienced significant events such as active conflict or violence (prevalence ratio, PR=5.575, p<0.001), earthquake (PR=3.118, p=0.004), flood (PR=1.534, p=0.008) and avalanche or heavy snowfall (PR=3.450, p<0.001) were significantly associated with injury or death. The likelihood of injury or death was significantly higher for long-distance households than for households living within a 5 km radius of the nearest healthcare facilities (6–10 km: PR=1.402, p=0.030; >10 km: PR=1.560, p=0.020).ConclusionThe study provides an epidemiological profile of injuries or death in crisis-affected populations across Afghanistan. Results also suggest that certain factors place the crisis-affected populations in Afghanistan at high risk for injuries or death, which can inform the development of surveillance and prevention programmes, the monitoring of patterns over time and the formulation of healthcare policies.

Access to care in Afghanistan after august 2021: a cross-sectional study exploring Afghans’ perspectives in 10 provinces

“…One explanation may be that areas that predominantly invested in emergency care due to a large influx of war casualties have now redirected their resources to primary and routine care, making services overall more accessible to the population. Nevertheless, traumatic events in Afghanistan are not only attributable to conflict or violence, but they frequently also occur in the context of road traffic accidents [ 19 ] or disasters [ 20 ]. Overall, lessening the burden of acute ailments on the health system may enable allocation of resources to continuous primary care, possibly contributing to improvements in people’s ability to seek care.…”

Interface between mental health and the earthquake: considering humanitarian endeavor

“…The frequency of psychological disorders in war-affected areas is more than twice as high as in the overall population, as demonstrated by data from the World Health Organization. The prevailing rate of mental health difficulties among the adult population is 22%, with 17% having mild to moderate depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), while 5% encountering severe depressive symptoms, stress, PTSD, schizophrenia, and or bipolar disorder ( 12 ). Another study conducted in Afghanistan in 2021 by BMC Psychiatry investigated eight different areas and revealed concerning prevalence rates of depression and anxiety disorders among the whole population.…”