Trauma-related fatalities are on the rise in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region, as its countries and territories suffer ongoing conflict, escalation of violence, and natural disasters.
Injury death rates are nearly 3 times higher in low- and middle-income countries of the Region than in its high-income countries. Traumatic injuries are most common in fragile and conflict-affected settings. But the populations most in need of trauma care services are typically those least able to access them.
Between 60% and 80% of all trauma-related deaths in low- and middle-income countries of the Region occur before reaching the hospital, reveals a recent WHO analysis. About one quarter of these fatalities may be avoidable with basic control of haemorrhage at the time of injury.
In low-resource settings, however, prehospital services are rudimentary, and injured patients are often stabilized and even transported to hospital by family, friends or members of the public.
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