Study of Adult Injury Fatality in Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Although Injury is a major cause of death in low and middle income countries, its demographic
characteristics in such regions is poorly characterized.
Aims and Objective: The study aims at determining the demographic pattern of adult injury-related deaths
in a metropolitan City in Nigeria.
Materials and Methods: This is a 14-year (2003-2016) descriptive retrospective autopsy study of adult
injury fatalities in Warri, Nigeria. The gender, age, and causes of death analyzed using SPSS version 22 and
the results presented in tables and figures.
Results: Of the 975 medico-legal deaths in this city from 2003 to 2016, 860(88.2%) deaths were attributed
to adult injury; among 778 (90.5%) males and 82 (9.5%) females. The highest and lowest incidence were
among the 21-30 years (39.8%) and 51-60 years (6.6%) age brackets respectively. Homicide, accident and
suicide contributed 639 (74.3%), 205 (23.8%) and 16 (1.9%) of the fatalities respectively. Firearm injury
(47.4%), road injury (11.7%), sharp weapon injury (18.1%), blunt injury (8.1%), drowning (3.5%), burns
injury (2.9%), electrocution (2.3%), hanging (1.5%) and petrochemical gas inhalation (1.3%) and falls
(0.9%) were the major causes of death.
Conclusion: Adult injury fatality is poorly addressed public health problem in Nigeria. The study showed
high vulnerability of victims in the 3rd decade of life and a disproportionately higher male fatality. Homicide
is the most common manner of death while is very rare. Proper understanding of causes and manners of
these preventable deaths is necessary to public health interventions and policies.