ABSTRACT
Global estimates suggest that the lives of between 14,000 and 16,000 people are lost each day as a result of trauma. The mortality and morbidity associated with trauma are largely predictable and preventable. Both the cause and effects of traumatic injury differ depending on the population concerned; injuries differ between males and females, between geographical areas, and between low-, middle- and high-income countries. Gender has a great impact on traumatic injury incidence and mechanism. Mortality from road traffic collisions and interpersonal violence is almost three times higher in males than in females. Injuries have traditionally been looked upon as the result of ‘accidents’ or random events, but in recent years this view has changed, and most injuries can now be viewed as potentially preventable.
