See article on motor bike accidents in Juba . It has also happened in N'djamena.

With the way people drive here in Abeché and our beautiful new roads getting finished we hope the hospitals are ready. J

For interest: in Ndjamena Equal Access has done a youth FM programme specifically on this.

Barry

From South Sudan Medical Bulletin Vol 2 Issue 4. Forwarded by Dr E Hakim.

Motorcycle-Related Trauma in South Sudan: a cross sectional observational study.

Andrew Allan, University of Birmingham. AXA615@bham.ac.uk

Abstract

Motorcycle related trauma is a major cause of morbidity in those of working age in the developing world1. One

hundred and sixteen patients involved in motorcycle related accidents were identified over four weeks at the Juba

Teaching Hospital in South Sudan. Of these 84% were male with an average age of 26.7 years. Most male

injuries involved drivers, whereas the majority of female injuries were to pedestrians. The commonest injuries

were lacerations, abrasions and fractures, and the commonest regions injured were the lower and upper limbs

and the head and face.

Forty-four patients were admitted to the ward. Forty six percent of men interviewed did not hold a license,

96.5% of drivers and 91.3% of passengers were not wearing a helmet and 24.6% of drivers were under the

influence of alcohol at the time of injury.

The vast majority of accidents occurred on surfaced roads within Central Juba. This study highlights the need

for tighter regulation of motorcycle ownership, usage and personal safety in addition to wider infrastructural

development. In doing this it might be possible to reduce morbidity and the socioeconomic impact on those

involved in motorcycle related accidents and the families who depend on them.

Significant injuries to the head and face were recorded, but no enquiries were made about cognitive impairment.

Organised rehabilitation of those injured needs serious consideration by the Ministry of Health.

Background

A recent influx of petrochemical and charitable

organizations has turned Juba into a crowded

overpopulated city and brought a new wave of

inexperienced motorists. Many young men are

using their motorcycles as makeshift taxis, often

without licences or personal protection. This

coupled with poor road conditions has created a

perfect environment for motorcycle related trauma

(MRT).

The aim of this study was to determine:

1. The extent of the problem of MRT in Juba

2. The demographics of those involved

3. The method and extent of injury and

4. Contributing risk factors.

These data might help to develop a strategy to

reduce MRT and its serious impact on those

involved.

Method

The study took place over four weeks (15th April –

10th May 2009) at Juba Teaching Hospital at the

emergency surgical outpatient department and the

trauma and surgical wards.

To assess how representative these patients were of

the overall road traffic-related trauma caseload,

clinical details of all patients admitted following

road traffic accidents to the surgical and emergency

wards between April 2008 and April 2009 were

examined.

Results

A total of 116 patients were identified over the 4-

week period and 44 (38%) were admitted. All

recorded cases took place between 7.45 and 22.00

hours with a peak time between 12.00 and 16.00

hours. The percent of the accidents occurring at

different locations were:

 main paved roads in central Juba 70.2%

 outskirts of the city on unpaved road 8.8%

 within 10 miles of Juba 10.6%

The remainder occurred over 10 miles from the

hospital.

Characteristics of patients

Of the 116 patients:

 97 (84%) were males and 19 (16%) were

females.

 The average age was 27.4 years for males and

24.1 years for females

 23 were children (<16 years) and 21 were

unemployed. The remainder were students (≥16

years in full time education) or in paid

employment of which 10 were military

personnel.

 58 were drivers (all males), 23 were passengers,

and 35 were pedestrians. See figure 1.