Abstract
Background: Trauma and injuries, including knife-related incidents, impose a major burden on South Africa’s health system due to their associated mortality and morbidity. This study examined the prevalence and factors associated with knife injuries at St Margaret’s Community Health Centre (SMCHC) in rural KwaZulu-Natal.
Methods: Secondary data were collected from clinical records of trauma patients aged 18 years and older who attended the SMCHC emergency room with acute injuries between 1 July 2023 and 30 June 2024. Of all identified records, 423 met the study criteria. Descriptive analysis was conducted using frequencies and percentages. Injuries were categorized as knife injuries, other intentional injuries, and accidents. Comparative analysis was performed between knife injuries and other intentional injuries. Associations were tested using chi-square, while logistic regression assessed measures of association at a 95% confidence interval, with statistical significance set at p ≤ 0.05.
Results: Knife injuries accounted for 127 of 423 cases, yielding a prevalence of 30%. The mean age of patients with knife injuries was 31 years, with males (n = 110, 87%) more affected than females (n = 17, 13%). Knife injuries were more common among participants from town and surrounding areas (n = 78, 61%) compared to rural areas (n = 49, 39%). The most frequently affected sites were the upper limbs (31%), multiple regions (20%), chest (12%), abdomen (12%), and face (12%). Knives were the most commonly used weapon (57%), followed by bottles (31%) and other sharp objects (12%). Most patients were discharged (78%), while 20% were referred and 2% refused hospital treatment. Injuries occurred most often on weekends, particularly Saturdays (31%) and Sundays (28%). Monthly distribution showed peaks in March (13%), July (12%), September (10%), November (9%), and February (9%). Presentation times were highest at 21:00 (9%), 19:00 (8%), and 03:00 (8%). Bivariate analysis revealed a significant association between sex and knife injury (p = 0.005), but no significant associations with age or geographical location. Regression analysis confirmed that males were significantly more likely to sustain knife injuries than females (OR 2.21, 95% CI: 1.26–3.88, p = 0.005). Age showed an inverse association, with individuals aged 18–34 years at higher risk (OR 2.36, 95% CI: 0.78–7.14) compared to those aged 35–49 years (OR 1.78, 95% CI: 0.56–5.66). Residing in town increased risk (OR 1.37, 95% CI: ...