Authors: Kissanet Tesfay¹, Mulubirhan Assefa² and Dawit Zenebe²

Abstract

Introduction: Road traffic injury has economic impact on the patients and their families. Such economic burden might result from the duration of time to recovery. The aim of the study is to assess median time to recovery and its predictors.

Method: A retrospective cohort study design was employed. The study population was all admitted road traffic injured patients. Using simple random sampling technique 322 charts of admitted road traffic injured patients from 2015 to 2017 were collected. Descriptive statistics, life table, Kaplan-Meier, log rank test and assumptions of Cox proportional hazard model was applied. Bivariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis, hazard ratios and associated 95% CI were estimated.

Result: Male to female ratio was 3:1. Of the total 258(80.1%) had been recovered and the median survival time to recovery was 15 days (IQR 7-29). From those recovered, 104(40.3%) had been referred from another health facilities. Availability of referral form linkage [AHR=1.5, CI (1.1-1.9)], mild and moderate glass coma scale (GCS) [AHR=2.3, CI (1.3-3.9)], conservative management [AHR=1.6, CI (1.2-2.1)], and without organ injury [AHR=1.6, CI (1.1-2.3)] were associated with time to recovery in multivariate analysis.

Conclusion: Median time to recovery of road traffic injured patients was relatively good. Being referred from another health facility, mild and moderate GCS, conservative management and without organ injury was positively associated with time to recovery of road traffic injured patients. ACSRH should strengthen attention to patients with severe GCS and with organ injury.

Key-words: Road traffic injury, Glass coma scale, Mekelle