Injury severity in relation to seatbelt use in Cape Town, South Africa : a pilot study

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dc.contributor.authorVan Hoving, D. J.en_ZA
dc.contributor.authorHendrikse, C.en_ZA
dc.contributor.authorGerber, R. J.en_ZA
dc.contributor.authorSinclair, M.en_ZA
dc.contributor.authorWallis, L. A.en_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2016-01-13T06:33:08Z
dc.date.available2016-01-13T06:33:08Z
dc.date.issued2014-07
dc.descriptionCITATION: Van Hoving, D.J., Hendrikse, C., Gerber, R.J., Sinclair, M. & Wallis, L.A. 2014. Injury severity in relation to seatbelt use in Cape Town, South Africa: a pilot study. South African Medical Journal, 104(7):488-492. doi:10.7196/SAMJ.7933.en_ZA
dc.descriptionThe original publication is available at http://samj.org.za
dc.description.abstractBackground. Injuries and deaths from road traffic collisions present an enormous challenge to the South African (SA) healthcare system. The use of restraining devices is an important preventive measure. Objective. To determine the relationship between seatbelt use and injury severity in vehicle occupants involved in road traffic collisions in Cape Town, SA. Methods. A prospective cohort design was used. Occupants of vehicles involved in road traffic collisions attended to by EMS METRO Rescue were included during the 3-month data collection period. Triage categories of prehospital patients were compared between restrained and unrestrained groups. Patients transferred to hospital were followed up and injury severity scores were calculated. Disposition from the emergency centre and follow-up after 1 week were also documented and compared. Results. A total of 107 patients were included in the prehospital phase. The prevalence of seatbelt use was 25.2%. Unrestrained vehicle occupants were five times more likely to have a high triage score (odds ratio (OR) 5.4; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.5 - 19.5). Fifty patients were transferred to study hospitals. Although seatbelt non-users were more likely to be admitted to hospital (p=0.002), they did not sustain more serious injuries (OR 0.44; 95% CI 0.02 - 8.8). Conclusion. The prevalence of seatbelt use in vehicle occupants involved in road traffic collisions was very low. The association between seatbelt non-use and injury severity calls for stricter enforcement of current seatbelt laws, together with the development and implementation of road safety interventions specifically focused on high-risk groups.en_ZA
dc.description.urihttp://samj.org.za/index.php/samj/article/view/7933
dc.description.versionPublisher's versionen_ZA
dc.format.extent5 pages
dc.identifier.citationVan Hoving, D.J., Hendrikse, C., Gerber, R.J., Sinclair, M. & Wallis, L.A. 2014. Injury severity in relation to seatbelt use in Cape Town, South Africa: a pilot study. South African Medical Journal, 104(7):488-492. doi:10.7196/SAMJ.7933.en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn2078-5135 (online)
dc.identifier.issn0256-9574 (print)
dc.identifier.otherdoi:10.7196/SAMJ.7933.
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/98154
dc.language.isoen_ZAen_ZA
dc.publisherHealth & Medical Publishing Groupen_ZA
dc.rights.holderSouth African Medical Journalen_ZA
dc.subjectTraffic accidents -- South Africaen_ZA
dc.subjectAutomobiles -- South Africa -- Seat beltsen_ZA
dc.subjectCrash injuries -- South Africa -- Preventionen_ZA
dc.titleInjury severity in relation to seatbelt use in Cape Town, South Africa : a pilot studyen_ZA
dc.typeArticleen_ZA
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