The Prevalence of Traumatic Head Injury and Associated Factors Among Trauma Patients Visited at Yanet Trauma and Surgery Specialized Center, Hawassa, Sidama Region, Ethiopia

Kirubel Lemma¹* and Legesse Adane²

Abstract

Introduction:
Head injuries are considered a serious public health problem because they are a common cause of mortality and disability in young people. However, there is little evidence on the pattern and outcome of head injuries in the study area.

Objective:
The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of traumatic head injury and its associated factors among patients visited at Yanet Trauma and Surgery Specialized Centre, 2025.

Methods and Materials:
An institution-based retrospective cohort study design was conducted among 1,062 trauma patients through card review at YTSSC from June 1 to June 30, 2025. Study units were accessed using simple random sampling with computer-generated random numbers from four years of patient registration data. The checklist was designed using the KoboCollect toolbox and pre-tested for necessary amendments; daily collected data were checked for completeness by the investigator. Following data collection, data were exported to SPSS version 27. Descriptive statistical analyses were conducted, with results presented using text, tables, graphs, means, and standard deviations. Binary logistic regression was then used to assess associations between outcome of head injury and independent variables; in multivariable analysis, variables with an odds ratio estimated with 95% CI and P < 0.05 were considered determinant factors.

Results:
The prevalence of head injury among trauma patients was 35.4%. Considering the types of head injury, the highest proportion was constituted by brain contusion (39.1%), followed by epidural hematoma (EDH) (35.1%), skull fracture (15.8%), and intracerebral hematoma (ICH) (15.0%). Furthermore, only 4.6% and 1.7% of participants developed trauma-related complications and hospital-acquired infections, respectively. Mechanism of injury, including road traffic accident [AOR=5.5; 95% CI (2.27–13.34)] and assault [AOR=3.4; 95% CI (1.35–8.37)], and comorbidity of chronic disease [AOR=2.2; 95% CI (1.13–4.18)], were the three independent predictors of head injury. More than half (55.7%) of participants had conservative management, and the majority (79.4%) had a good discharge outcome. Only 11.7% of participants stayed more than 7 days in the treatment center.

Conclusion:
The overall prevalence of head injury observed in this study indicates that head injury is a major problem in the study setting, despite generally good discharge outcomes.

Keywords

Head Injury, Trauma, Prevalence and Outcome

Corresponding Author

Kirubel Lemma, Department of Public Health, Pharma College of Health Sciences, Hawassa, Ethiopia.

Citation

Lemma, K., Adane, L. (2026). The Prevalence of Traumatic Head Injury and Associated Factors Among Trauma Patients Visited at Yanet Trauma and Surgery Specialized Center, Hawassa, Sidama Region, Ethiopia. Epidemiol Public Health OA, 2(1), 01-16.