Jurnal Internasional vol.12 issue 1 2022
African Journal of Emergency Medicine
Firearm injuries among children due to the Kivu conflict from 2017 to 2020: A hospital-based retrospective descriptive cohort study
Dublin Core
Title
Jurnal Internasional vol.12 issue 1 2022
African Journal of Emergency Medicine
Firearm injuries among children due to the Kivu conflict from 2017 to 2020: A hospital-based retrospective descriptive cohort study
African Journal of Emergency Medicine
Firearm injuries among children due to the Kivu conflict from 2017 to 2020: A hospital-based retrospective descriptive cohort study
Subject
Conflict
Democratic Republic of Congo
Firearm injury
Pediatrics
Survival
Democratic Republic of Congo
Firearm injury
Pediatrics
Survival
Description
Introduction: Firearm-related injuries are deadly but avoidable. The case of Kivu, a region in the Eastern Dem-
ocratic Republic of Congo (DRC), is alarming. Decades of unresolved regional conflicts birthed armed groups that
have massacred inhabitants and injured several children. This regional instability has also created barriers to
seeking and obtaining timely care, decreasing the survival rate. This region's lack of data on paediatric fatal and
nonfatal firearm injuries (F&NFFIs) needs studying. Thus, we aim to determine the prevalence and evaluate the
outcomes of paediatric F&NFFIs in Kivu.
Methods: We included all F&NFFI paediatric patients (≤18 years), admitted at our institution between 2017 and
2020. We extracted data from patient records. Next, we assessed the relationship between determinants of
paediatric outcomes using the Chi-square test and the student's t-test. Confounders were identified using cox
regression.
Results: This study included 101 paediatric patients, mostly male (63.4%), with an average age of 15.9 years
residing 164.4 km on average from the hospital. On average, they were admitted 2.9 days post-injury, with the
most affected anatomical regions being lower limbs (53.5%) and upper limbs (18.8%). The mean length of stay
was 52.9 days, and the mortality rate was 4.0%. Also, injury complications increased the mean length of stay and
mortality rate. In addition, mortality was correlated with circulatory failure and anaemia.
Discussion: Paediatric F&NFFIs in Eastern DRC is a preventable tragedy. Mortality is increased by injury com-
plications and correlates with some biological factors. Prevention strategies should be developed to protect
children and appropriate measures should be established to improve rates of prehospital care and early hospital
presentation to lower mortality and improve paediatric outcomes.
ocratic Republic of Congo (DRC), is alarming. Decades of unresolved regional conflicts birthed armed groups that
have massacred inhabitants and injured several children. This regional instability has also created barriers to
seeking and obtaining timely care, decreasing the survival rate. This region's lack of data on paediatric fatal and
nonfatal firearm injuries (F&NFFIs) needs studying. Thus, we aim to determine the prevalence and evaluate the
outcomes of paediatric F&NFFIs in Kivu.
Methods: We included all F&NFFI paediatric patients (≤18 years), admitted at our institution between 2017 and
2020. We extracted data from patient records. Next, we assessed the relationship between determinants of
paediatric outcomes using the Chi-square test and the student's t-test. Confounders were identified using cox
regression.
Results: This study included 101 paediatric patients, mostly male (63.4%), with an average age of 15.9 years
residing 164.4 km on average from the hospital. On average, they were admitted 2.9 days post-injury, with the
most affected anatomical regions being lower limbs (53.5%) and upper limbs (18.8%). The mean length of stay
was 52.9 days, and the mortality rate was 4.0%. Also, injury complications increased the mean length of stay and
mortality rate. In addition, mortality was correlated with circulatory failure and anaemia.
Discussion: Paediatric F&NFFIs in Eastern DRC is a preventable tragedy. Mortality is increased by injury com-
plications and correlates with some biological factors. Prevention strategies should be developed to protect
children and appropriate measures should be established to improve rates of prehospital care and early hospital
presentation to lower mortality and improve paediatric outcomes.
Creator
Romeo Bujiriri Murhega , Paul Munguakonkwa Budema , Tshibambe Nathanael Tshimbombu , Georges Kuyigwa Toha , Fabrice Gulimwentuga Cikomola , Paterne Safari Mudekereza , L ́eon-Emmanuel Mubenga , Ghislain Maheshe Balemba , Darck Cubaka Badesire , Ahmed Negida , Ulrick Sidney Kanmounye
Source
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.afjem.2021.11.006
Date
28 November 2021
Contributor
peri irawan
Format
pdf
Language
english
Type
text
Files
Citation
Romeo Bujiriri Murhega , Paul Munguakonkwa Budema , Tshibambe Nathanael Tshimbombu , Georges Kuyigwa Toha , Fabrice Gulimwentuga Cikomola , Paterne Safari Mudekereza , L ́eon-Emmanuel Mubenga , Ghislain Maheshe Balemba , Darck Cubaka Badesire , Ahmed Negida , Ulrick Sidney Kanmounye , “Jurnal Internasional vol.12 issue 1 2022
African Journal of Emergency Medicine
Firearm injuries among children due to the Kivu conflict from 2017 to 2020: A hospital-based retrospective descriptive cohort study,” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed February 5, 2025, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/1878.
African Journal of Emergency Medicine
Firearm injuries among children due to the Kivu conflict from 2017 to 2020: A hospital-based retrospective descriptive cohort study,” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed February 5, 2025, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/1878.