Violence-related injuries in the emergency department: an epidemiological cross-sectional study

The financial cost and loss of quality of life due to death or non-fatal physical and psychological injuries resulting from interpersonal violence impose substantial financial and non-financial burdens on the economy and society. Unfortunately, violence is more prevalent in low-income countries, and treating the physical and psychological consequences of violence places a significant burden on the healthcare system. The present study aimed to investigate the epidemiology of conflict-related injuries among emergency department attendees. This cross-sectional study analyzed 422 individuals presenting with conflict-related injuries to an emergency department in Hamedan in 2019. Data on demographics, incident details, and clinical outcomes were collected via a validated checklist and analyzed using SPSS v.24. The majority of participants were male (91.9%), aged 20–29 (60.7%), and single (73.7%). Most incidents occurred in spring (46.0%) and on the street (43.4%). The primary cause of conflict was animosity/hostility (28.2%). The head and neck were the most frequently injured areas (40.5%). While most patients (71.6%) were discharged directly from the ED, the mortality rate was 0.7%. Generally, the study results have shown that focusing educational programs on high-risk groups and taking necessary measures to fill their leisure time, along with educating families and individuals at different levels, can play a significant role in creating community security, preserving people’s health, and reducing healthcare costs.