RECOVERY FROM TRAUMA DUE TO ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS AMONG THE VICTIMS INVOLVED IN ILORIN METROPOLIS, NIGERIA: A QUALITATIVE APPROACH.

Adebayo Lawrence, OJO, Ayodele Mandela, ASEBIOMO (Ph.D.)

Abstract

Road Traffic Accident (RTA) is an accidental incidence happened suddenly to road users who suffered from different types of injuries and disabilities, which can affect their quality of life. They usually face with various degrees of physical, mental, and social problems. Most traffic accident victims had difficulty to recover from trauma due to road traffic accidents. This study investigated the recovery from trauma among the victims of road traffic accidents in Ilorin metropolis. This qualitative study with content analysis approach was conducted on 7 patients with disability in the upper or lower limbs caused by road traffic accidents, who had been admitted for between 2 days of hospitalization, through months and years to recover from the accident. A purposeful sampling method was applied to this study. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and analyzed through conventional content analysis. During analysis, four main categories of situation were identified such as caring needs, adjusting to the new situation, looking for information, and transition from functional limitation from traffic accident victims to recover from trauma. The study concluded that recovering from trauma due to road traffic accidents is a gradual process and with the assistance of relatives, peer group acceptance, health care providers and independent organization, they can get over the trauma as quickly as possible. Policy-makers should take steps toward health promotion and recovery of RTA victims as a priority.

Key words: Recovery, Trauma, Road Traffic Accidents, Victims.