Trauma and Its Associated Factors in Patients Presenting at the Emergency Department, Intermediate Hospital, Oshakati, Namibia: Epidemiological Baseline and Implications for Contemporary Trauma Care Systems

Abstract Background Trauma remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally, yet systematic epidemiological surveillance remains sparse in sub-Saharan Africa. Understanding the burden and drivers of trauma is essential for health system planning and targeted prevention. Aim To describe the prevalence of trauma and its associated factors in patients presenting at the Emergency Department of the Oshakati Intermediate Hospital, Namibia, and to contextualise findings within contemporary developments in trauma care and prevention in the region. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study administering a validated questionnaire to 300 consecutively sampled participants over 4 months to obtain their characteristics, mechanism, type and outcome of injury. Descriptive and inferential analyses were performed using SPSS. Results Of 12,989 first-time ED visits, physical trauma accounted for 2,802 (21.6%) visits. Of 300 trauma patients surveyed, 65.0% were male, 68.3% were under 30 years, 38.0% were unemployed, and 38.3% were dependents. The most common trauma type was accidental (55.3%), and blunt force trauma was the predominant mechanism (77.3%). Alcohol was implicated in 29% of cases and showed significant associations with intimate partner violence (66.7%), community violence (56.5%), and motor vehicle accidents (35.9%). Community violence was significantly higher on weekends (24.2%) compared to weekdays (12.6%) (p = 0.018). Men were significantly more likely to experience community violence (84.8%), motor vehicle accidents (71.8%), and family violence (75.0%), while women were significantly more likely to experience intimate partner violence (94.9%) and self-inflicted injury (66.7%). The limbs (78.4%) were the most affected body regions, followed by head and neck injuries (27.3%). Close to half (46.0%) of cases required admission. Conclusions Trauma affects one in five emergency department attendees in northern Namibia, with young adult males disproportionately affected. Alcohol emerges as a critical modifiable risk factor across multiple trauma types. Findings have important implications for trauma care system strengthening, particularly in the context of newly established intensive care infrastructure at the study facility, and for targeted prevention strategies addressing violence, alcohol use, and occupational safety.