• Mpapho Joseph Motsumi, Gezahen Ayane, Morapedi Kwati, Kaone Panzirah-Mabaka, and Michael Walsh.
• Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Botswana, P.O. Box 37 Mogoditshane, Botswana. Electronic address: motsumim@ub.ac.bw.
• Injury. 2021 Sep 1; 52 (9): 2665-2671.

AbstractRoad traffic collisions (RTC) are a major cause of mortality and morbidity in Botswana. To our knowledge no research has been conducted in Botswana to investigate preventable deaths that occur as a result of RTCs. The aim of this study is to establish the rate of preventable deaths from RTCs in the greater Gaborone area in Botswana. This was a 5-year retrospective study conducted at the forensic pathology department for the greater Gaborone area, in Botswana. Nine hundred and nine (909) forensic pathology reports were retrieved. Sixty-eight percent (68.2%) of RTC deaths were considered preventable. Head injury in isolation and in combination with other injuries accounted for 87.6% (796/909) of deaths. Haemorrhagic shock was present in 70.2% (638) of all documented injuries. Another documented injury contributing to fatal RTCs was high spinal cord injury. This injury was documented in 13.1% (119/909) of all deaths. We recommend the implementation of a comprehensive trauma system in Botswana to reduce the number of deaths from RTCs.Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

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