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Brain Injury Volume 35, 2021 - Issue 10
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Research Article

Epidemiology of traumatic brain injury based on clinical symptoms amongst inhabitants of the Southwest Region of Cameroon: a community-based study

Frida N. Emboloa Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon;b Center for Global Surgical Studies, Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California, USAView further author information
,
Nikhil Bellamkondac Program for the Advancement of Surgical Equity, Department of Surgery, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USAView further author information
,
Drusia Dicksonb Center for Global Surgical Studies, Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California, USAView further author information
,
Girish Motwanib Center for Global Surgical Studies, Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California, USAView further author information
,
Susan N. Mbeboha Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon;c Program for the Advancement of Surgical Equity, Department of Surgery, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USAView further author information
,
Mbianyor Mbiarikaib Center for Global Surgical Studies, Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California, USAView further author information
,
Eunice Obena Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon;b Center for Global Surgical Studies, Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California, USAView further author information
,
Rasheedat Okec Program for the Advancement of Surgical Equity, Department of Surgery, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USAView further author information
,
Rochelle A. Dickerc Program for the Advancement of Surgical Equity, Department of Surgery, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USAView further author information
,
Catherine Juillardc Program for the Advancement of Surgical Equity, Department of Surgery, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USACorrespondence[email protected]
View further author information
,
S. Ariane Christieb Center for Global Surgical Studies, Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California, USAView further author information
&
Alain Chichom-Mefirea Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, CameroonView further author information
 show all
Pages 1184-1191 | Received 20 Oct 2020, Accepted 14 Jul 2021, Published online: 12 Aug 2021
 
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ABSTRACT

Background

The majority of studies investigating the epidemiology of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in sub-Saharan Africa are primarily hospital-based, missing fatal, mild, and other cases of TBI that do not present to formal care settings. This study aims to bridge this gap in data by describing the epidemiology of TBI in the Southwest Region of Cameroon.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional community-based study. Using a three-stage cluster sampling, local research assistants surveyed households with a pre-tested questionnaire to identify individuals with symptoms of TBI in nine health districts in the Southwest Region of Cameroon from 2016 to 2017.

Results

Data gathered on 8,065 individuals revealed 78 cases of suspected TBI. Road traffic injury (RTI) comprised 55% of subjects’ mechanism of injury. Formal medical care was sought by 82.1% of subjects; three subjects died at the time of injury. Following injury, 59% of subjects reported difficulty affording basic necessities and 87.2% of subjects were unable to perform activities of their primary occupation.

Conclusions

This study postulates an incidence of TBI in Southwest Cameroon of 975.57 per 100,000 individuals, significantly greater than prior findings. A large proportion of TBI is secondary to RTI.

Disclosure statement

The authors have nothing to declare. S. Ariane Christie was supported by the Association for Academic Surgery (AAS) Global Surgery Research Fellowship Award.

Additional information

Funding

S. Ariane Christie was supported by the Association for Academic Surgery (AAS) Global Surgery Research Fellowship Award.
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