TITLE:
Cross-Sectional Study to Assess the Awareness of Essential Trauma Care among the Health Care Providers at St. Francis Referral Hospital
AUTHORS:
Theresia Karuhanga, Christian Kibasindila, Balichene Madoshi
KEYWORDS:
Essential Trauma Care, Trauma Victim, Life Threatening, Pre-Hospital Care, Disability
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.13 No.2,
February
4,
2026
ABSTRACT: Background: Essential Trauma Care (ETC) is an emergency medical care given as life-saving care to the trauma patient to prevent death or disability. ETC should be given at all levels of health facilities in order to serve life. Its application depends on the institutional level. However, there is inadequate provision of ETC particularly in low- and middle-income countries, which is contributed to by multiple factors including inadequate ETC capability of health care providers and insufficient pre-hospital care. This study aimed to assess the awareness of ETC among the health providers at Saint Francis Referral Hospital, Ifakara Kilombero District in Tanzania. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted involving healthcare workers from various departments. Those who were willing to participate were given questionnaire to assess their awareness of ETC by filling in the questions constructed on the questionnaire. Data were analyzed by using SPSS version 26. Results: Of the 196 with an overall response rate of 97.95% (192) participants were eligible to be involved in this study. Most of the participants were Nurses comprising 43.75% followed by medical doctors 23.96% (46) of all participants. Most of the respondents 37.50% reported being unaware on an ETC whereas only 4.17% had strong ETC awareness. Inadequate staff (51.04%), insufficient training (31.10%) on ETC and equipment availability (25.50%) were the three top challenges among the others hindering ETC at this institute. Conclusion: The study found significant weak awareness of ETC and number of challenges hindering ETC delivery at the specific institution. In order to reach the 2023-2026 strategic plan for Tanzania Road Traffic Accident (RTA) and ETC implementation and WHO ETC care guideline adherence, we should improve the gaps identified, which undoubtedly are almost similar in most health facilities crossing the Nation as well as the African Continent.