523 The prevalence of injury related disabilities in Bangladesh: result from nationwide population-based survey

<h3>Background</h3> Injuries is a major cause of mortality and disability around the world including Bangladesh. However, injury related disability is a neglected public health agenda in Bangladesh due to unavailability of updated and valid data. <h3>Objective</h3> The study aimed at measuring the prevalence of injury related disability and associated factors in Bangladesh. <h3>Methods</h3> A nationwide cross-sectional survey was conducted between March and June 2016, at household level in 16 randomly selected districts. Multistage cluster sampling method considering probability-proportional-to-size strategy with separate urban and rural setting was used to obtain the desired sample. The electronic data collection process was through face-to-face interviews with the respondents to collect all the required information. Verbal autopsy method was used to ascertain the cause of both morbidity and mortality. <h3>Results</h3> The overall rate of injury related disabilities per 100,00 population was (165.8;95%CI;151.8–181.0) with higher prevalence among the people 60 years and above (446.7;95%CI;368.1–541.9). Prevalence of disabilities was nearly twofold among the males (226.7;95%CI;203.8–252) compared to females (104.5; 95%CI;89.4–122.3). Prevalence was significantly higher among the rural people (194.8; 95% CI 176.1–215.5) than the urban people (113.0;95%CI;94.5–135.0). The leading causes of injury related disabilities was road traffic injuries (34.3%) followed by falls (33.9%). The proportionate distribution of disabilities among the machine injury, cut injury and blunt injury were 7.7%, 6.9% and 6.0% respectively. On the other hand, the lowest percentage of disability related to injuries was caused by burns (0.8%), electrocution (2.8%), animal bites (4.0%), and violence (3.6%). Among the permanent disabilities due to injury was about 42.34% loss of mobility, 37.10% loss of activities with hand, 10.1 % loss of vision, 2.42% loss of intellect, 1.61% loss of speech and 1.21 % loss of hearing. Transportation facilities were the highest reported site of injury accounting for 41%. Others significant places of injury were found yard 13.7%, Industry/factory/workshop /construction area 10.1%, bedroom and living room 9.3% and agriculture field 7.7% <h3>Conclusions</h3> This study established injury related disabilities as a substantial public health burden in Bangladesh. Thus, the findings of the study could be used as the knowledge base for future policy implications, especially in the health sector.