Health implications of small arms and light weapons in eastern Uganda

Injuries due to small arms and light weapons (SALW) are common in developing countries with ongoing collective violence, or those that exist in a post-conflict state. Uganda has a long history of armed conflict, but little quantitative evidence is available about the extent of the problem of SALW. We performed a review of all injuries due to SALW at Mbale Regional Hospital in eastern Uganda for the six-year period 1998-2003. Using a standardised questionnaire, we recorded information from over 200 cases concerning the characteristics of the victim, the incident, the weapon used and the care received. The majority involved males and occurred in the context of conflict within tribal communities, or armed robberies throughout the region. Each injury is of significant cost to the healthcare system and to the victim. Prevention, through limiting the availability of the 'vector' of disease (SALW), is a key part of the solution to this problem

Armed conflict · Criminology · Environmental health · Geography · Health care · Limiting · Medical emergency · Occupational safety and health · Pathology · Poison control · Political science · Socioeconomics · Sociology · Suicide prevention · Engineering · Gun Ownership and Violence Research · Health and Conflict Studies · Intimate Partner and Family Violence · Law · Medicine · Psychology

• An agent–vector–host–environment model for controlling small arms and light weapons

  Andrew D Pinto, Malika Sharma et al.•Medicine Conflict & Survival•2011

  Añadir item

• Engaging health professionals in advocacy against gun violence

  Andrew D Pinto•Medicine Conflict & Survival•2008

  Añadir item

• The world report on violence and health

  Open Access•Etienne Krug, Etienne G Krug et al.•The Lancet•2002

  Añadir item

• IPPNW's ‘Aiming for Prevention’ Campaign on Small Arms and Light Weapons

  Michael Christ, Maria Valenti•Medicine Conflict & Survival•2005

  Añadir item

• Pastoral politics in the northeast periphery in Uganda

  Open Access•Mustafa Kemal Mirzeler, Mustafa Mirzeler et al.•The Journal of Modern African…•2000

  Añadir item

• Arming Genocide in Rwanda

  Stephen D Goose, Frank Smyth•Foreign Affairs•1994

  Añadir item