Abstract:
Introduction. Injuries represent a major public health issue, causing approximately 16,000 deaths globally each day (10%
of all deaths), which is 32% more than the combined total caused by malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS. Over the past 15
years, the WHO and regional initiatives have supported the piloting of trauma registries in low- and middle-income countries
as essential tools for monitoring, planning, and prevention.
Objective. This article aims to assess the feasibility and utility of implementing a national trauma registry in the Republic
of Moldova, in order to improve injury surveillance and emergency service planning.
Materials and methods. In 2018, the pilot iCREATE trauma registry was tested for the first time in three countries: Moldova,
Armenia, and Georgia. The data collection instrument was developed based on WHO recommendations, ICD-10, and
IDB-JAMIE standards under the guidance of partners from the University of Iowa and Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca.
All trauma cases from the Institute of Emergency Medicine and the Valentin Ignatenco Municipal Clinical Children’s Hospital
in Chișinău were included in the registry.
Results. The analyzed sample consists of 7,942 individuals, predominantly male (57.3%). The most represented age groups
were 19-29 years (17.8%) and 30-39 years (17.6%), while individuals aged 70 and above accounted for 11% of the total.
Most incidents occurred in urban areas (76.9%). Of the total patients, 52.4% were treated and discharged, while 37.5% required
hospitalization. Injuries occurred primarily at home (55.4%) and on public roads (24.7%). The leading mechanism
of injury was falls (68.2%), followed by other causes (12.2%) and cut/pierce injuries (10.0%). The most frequently affected
body regions were the head/skull (12.5%) and knee (11.8%), followed by the hip (6.7%) and wrist (6.4%). Fractures were
the most common injury type (34.5%), followed by contusions (23.0%) and open wounds (14.7%). Several gaps in data
collection and reporting were identified and should be considered in future efforts to enhance trauma surveillance.
Conclusions. The data highlight the need to develop a national trauma registry as an essential tool for monitoring, prevention,
and effective intervention, alongside health promotion campaigns targeting vulnerable groups and the involvement
of relevant stakeholders.
