Patterns and outcomes of road traffic injuries among children in Georgia

Title : Patterns and outcomes of road traffic injuries among children in Georgia

Abstract:

Road traffic injuries (RTIs) among children represent an increasingly important public health concern in Georgia. This study examined the epidemiological profile of RTIs leading to hospitalization among individuals aged 0–18 years between 2015 and 2020. Hospitalization data provided by the National Center for Disease Control and Public Health of Georgia was used for the study. RTI cases were identified using ICD-10 codes, and descriptive statistics were generated with SPSS 20. From 2015 to 2020, 3,567 children were hospitalized due to RTIs, representing 0.5% of all hospital discharges. The highest number of hospitalizations occurred in 2018 (18.5%) and the lowest in 2020 (14.2%), although the proportion of RTI-related admissions relative to all hospitalizations remained stable. Boys accounted for two-thirds (66%) of cases. The mean and median ages were 12 and 13 years, respectively. Injuries peaked during summer months (June–August). Head injuries were the most frequent (67%), followed by injuries to the lower and upper limbs (18%) and multiple injuries (10%). Most children (68.9%) were discharged within three days. There were 54 in-hospital deaths (1.5%), with more than half occurring among pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists. Fatal cases were most commonly linked to multiple trauma (46%) and head injuries (43%). Effective prevention policies must prioritize child safety across all forms of transport particularly for pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, and young passengers.

Biography:

Ia Khakhutaishvili, MD, PhD, Doctor cardiologist and Senior scientific worker. Since 2012 she has experience of teaching internal medicine and anatomy in higher medical institutions. Since 2006 she is senior scientific worker at Al. Natishvili Institute of morphology, department of the palliative care and gerontology. In 2008-2016 she participated to create residency program in Gastroenterology and was coordinator of the program. Since 2016 she is associated professor and head of Anatomy/Histology/Embryology department at Tbilisi Medical Academy (TMA). Same year, she was elected as a member of the Curricular committee and Centre of Innovations in Medical Education. Ia Khakhutaishvili participates in the creation and development of medical educational programs, planning, and implementation of innovations in teaching process. She is actively involved in creation and development of study syllabi. In terms of professional development, she constantly participates in conferences, trainings and various workshops. She is involved in scientific-research projects and programs. She actively participates in implementation of active learning methods in medical education.