Johns Hopkins International Injury Research Unit Publishes A Review of Injury Burden in Eastern Mediterranean Region

Recently, Johns Hopkins International Injury Research Unit (JH-IIRU) team members, including associate director Abdulgafoor M. Bachani, assistant scientist, Katharine A. Allen, doctoral student Julia Zhang and director Adnan A. Hyder, published an assessment of the literature available on the burden of injury in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) of the World Health Organization (WHO).

EMR is a one of six WHO regions and includes 21 member states as well as the West Bank and Gaza Strip from North Africa to western Asia. As the region varies in geographic, economic and social characteristics, so does the burden of injuries and violence.

Despite these regional differences, injury-associated mortality and disability is on the rise across the Region, especially among economically productive adults, young males and vulnerable road users.  Road traffic injuries account for 27% pf the total injury and violence mortality in EMR, and violence, including suicide, homicide and war-related injury has been increasing over the last twenty years.

The study showed, however, even though information on the effectiveness of injury prevention interventions in high income countries (HICs) is well-documented, most studies have failed to assess the efficacy of these interventions in terms of LMICs in general, and in EMR specifically. Therefore, there is a need for more interest and effort to address the burden of injuries in the region through interventions, legislative actions and research that examine the special needs and challenges in the Region.

“Injuries and violence in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: A review of the health, economic and social burden,” was published in the Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal. To read more, click here.

To read additional studies from JH-IIRU in the region, click here and here.