Neurocognitive deficits among adult road traffic accident victims at the University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia

Introduction: Road traffic accidents (RTAs) are of growing public health importance worldwide contributing significantly to the global disease burden thus public health experts worldwide concede that there is a global epidemic of RTAs. Exposure to RTAs may be associated with changes in brain functioning and cognitive performance.

Objective: This study sought to contribute to the understanding of the neurocognitive deficits among adult victims of RTAs.

Methodology: It is a cross-sectional study (descriptive in nature). Cognitive profiles of the affected participants were assessed by selected tests from the International Neurobehavioral test battery. The quality of life was assessed by application of the World Health Organisation Quality of Life (WHOQOL) questionnaire. The primary data obtained was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics using SPSS.

Results: Twenty-seven (27) RTA victims out of Thirty (30) had executive functioning impairment with a Domain Deficit Score (DDS) of ≥ 0.5 and all the RTA victims in the study had speed of information processing impairment with a Domain Deficit Score (DDS) of ≥ 0.5. There was no significant statistical gender difference in neurocognitive functioning (Executive functioning F=0.85, P=0.36; Speed of information processing F=0.98, P=0.33). Compromised quality of life among adult victims of road traffic accidents was confirmed (P=0.005).

Conclusion: This study shows an association between RTA and neurocognitive functioning in adult victims. Findings of this study show the presence of neuropsychological impairments in the two domains assessed (executive functioning and speed of information processing). The study indicates that RTA significantly compromises the quality of life.