INJURY SURVEILLANCE IN TRINIDAD - The San Fernando General Hospital Experience

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INJURY SURVEILLANCE IN TRINIDAD - The San
Fernando General Hospital Experience

• Roanna Bynoe
• September 7, 2006

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History of Surveillance System

• Surveillance System initiated in December 2001
  with grant from IDRC
• Joint initiative of the CAREC, SWRHA and the
  Rotary Club, San Fernando South
• Data collection commenced in February 2002
• Collaboration with Mc Laughlin Centre, Ottawa in
  2005

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ANALYSIS

• February 2002- December 2005
• Catchment population 500, 000
• 23.5 of all AE Department Visits

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Total Injuries by year 2002-2005
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Age Group
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Intent
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Intentional Interpersonal Injuries

• Quarrel - predominant context of injury Leading
  context in the 25 44 age category with men
  twice likely to be at risk than female
  counterpart.
• The predominant object used during a Quarrel was
  Bodily force and predominant location is home,
  2nd leading location is street/highway.

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Intentional Interpersonal Injuries

• The predominant Victim/Perpetrator Relationship
  was a friend/ acquaintance and leading age group
  is 25 44 years, 2nd leading age group is 15
  24 years
• Predominant Object Used is bodily force
  especially with 25 44 and 15 24 age groups.

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Mechanism of Injury 2002-2005
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Mechanism of Injury

• Falls accounted for 32.5 of the Level IV
  injuries whilst Other Blunt Force accounted for
  26.8 of the Level IV injuries
• The predominant mode of transportation is the
  private car, 2nd leading mode of transport is the
  pedestrian
• The leading type of road user is the passenger,
  next predominant road user is the driver.

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Clinical Outcome
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Clinical Outcome

• lt1 of persons sustaining an unintentional injury
  died in the AE Department
• 72.1 of persons discharged sustained an
  intentional interpersonal injury
• lt20 of persons sustaining a fall were admitted
  to hospital
• 17.9 of traffic injuries admitted to hospital

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System Limitations

• Injury surveillance system exists only in South
  West Region
• Profile of injuries may differ substantially
  across different Health Regions
• System does not capture injuries presenting at
• Private Facilities
• Health Centers
• Under-representation of fatal injuries

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Next Steps

• Develop and implement intervention strategies
  with key stakeholders
• Training and sensitisation of staff
• Expansion of the system to other AE Departments
  within the SWRHA
• National expansion of the system

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Acknowledgements

• Caribbean Epidemiology Centre
• South West Regional Health Authority (data
  collection and entry, nursing staff, medical
  staff, hospital administration)
• Ministry of Health
• Rotary Club, San Fernando South
• PAHO (biennial funds)
• Health Canada