The Impact of Bodaboda Motor Crashes on the Budget for Clinical Services at Mulago Hospital, Kampala
Background: Bodabodas are a common form of transport and are becoming a major cause of road traffic accidents in Uganda. We evaluated the magnitude of injuries related to bodabodas and their impact on clinical services at Mulago hospital. Methods: This was a retrospective review of all trauma patien...
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Published in | East and Central African journal of surgery Vol. 15; no. 1 |
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Main Authors | , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Published |
Uganda
Association of Surgeons of East Africa and College of Surgeons of East Central and Southern Africa
10.06.2010
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Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | Background: Bodabodas are a common form of transport and are becoming a
major cause of road traffic accidents in Uganda. We evaluated the
magnitude of injuries related to bodabodas and their impact on clinical
services at Mulago hospital. Methods: This was a retrospective review
of all trauma patients who presented at Mulago hospital emergency ward
between June and August 2008 following bodaboda crash. The hospital
costs involved in their management were obtained from the office of the
hospital statistician. Results: Road Traffic Crashes (RTCs) were the
leading cause of trauma and bodabodas were involved in 41% of all
trauma patients. The average duration of stay was 8.3 days. The average
cost to maintain a bodaboda patient was determined at Uganda shillings
700,359/ or the equivalent of US $369. Bodaboda injuries consumed 62.5%
of the budget allocation for the directorate of surgery, Mulago
Hospital. Conclusions: Bodabodas are a major cause of traumatic
injuries among cases seen in the surgical emergency department at
Mulago and the costs incurred by the hospital in managing these
injuries are enormous. Efforts should be made to reduce the menace that
is brought about by bodaboda motorcycle crashes. Resources currently
being spent on treating injuries resulting from accidents involving
bodabodas would then be used to improve the care of other patients. |
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ISSN: | 1024-297X |