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First Responders and Prehospital Care for Road Traffic Injuries in Malawi

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 December 2016

Linda Chokotho ,
Wakisa Mulwafu ,
Isaac Singini ,
Yasin Njalale ,
Limbika Maliwichi-Senganimalunje  and
Kathryn H. Jacobsen Open the ORCID record for Kathryn H. Jacobsen [Opens in a new window]
Linda Chokotho
Affiliation:
Beit Cure Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi
Wakisa Mulwafu
Affiliation:
Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi
Isaac Singini
Affiliation:
John Hopkins Project, Blantyre, Malawi
Yasin Njalale
Affiliation:
Blantyre Adventist Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi
Limbika Maliwichi-Senganimalunje
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Chancellor College, Zomba, Malawi
Kathryn H. Jacobsen*
Affiliation:
Department of Global & Community Health, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, USA
*
Correspondence: Kathryn H. Jacobsen 4400 University Drive 5B7 George Mason University Fairfax, Virginia 22030, USA E-mail: kjacobse@gmu.edu
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Abstract

Introduction

Road traffic collisions are a common cause of injuries and injury-related deaths in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Basic prehospital care can be the difference between life and death for injured drivers, passengers, and pedestrians.

Problem

This study examined the challenges associated with current first response practices in Malawi.

Methods

In April 2014, focus groups were conducted in two areas of Malawi: Karonga (in the Northern Region) and Blantyre (in the Southern Region; both are along the M1 highway), and a qualitative synthesis approach was used to identify themes. All governmental and nongovernmental first response organizations identified by key informants were contacted, and a checklist was used to identify the services they offer.

Results

Access to professional prehospital care in Malawi is almost nonexistent, aside from a few city fire departments and private ambulance services. Rapid transportation to a hospital is usually the primary goal of roadside care because of limited first aid knowledge and a lack of access to basic safety equipment. The key informants recommended: expanding community-based first aid training; emphasizing umunthu (shared humanity) to inspire bystander involvement in roadside care; empowering local leaders to coordinate on-site responses; improving emergency communication systems; equipping traffic police with road safety gear; and expanding access to ambulance services.

Conclusion

Prehospital care in Malawi would be improved by the creation of a formal network of community leaders, police, commercial drivers, and other lay volunteers who are trained in basic first aid and are equipped to respond to crash sites to provide roadside care to trauma patients and prepare them for safe transport to hospitals.

ChokothoL, MulwafuW, SinginiI, NjalaleY, Maliwichi-SenganimalunjeL, JacobsenKH. First Responders and Prehospital Care for Road Traffic Injuries in Malawi. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2017;32(1):14–19.

Keywords

developing countriesEmergency Medical Servicesfirst aidMalawiprehospital emergency carequalitative researchsub-Saharan Africatraffic accidents
Type
Original Research
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 32 , Issue 1 , February 2017 , pp. 14 - 19
Copyright
© World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2016 

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