A situational analysis of the care of road traffic victims in Burkina Faso: a challenge to achieve sustainable development objectives

Introduction The aim of this study was to assess the capacity of Burkina Faso’s health services to care for road accident victims, from the crash site up to their recovery and rehabilitation. Methods We performed a situation analysis rooted in the literature findings, an overview of administrative documents, followed by the analysis of pre-hospital, hospital and post-hospital care. We also performed monitoring visits and interviewed a number of stakeholders, aiming to understand the current situation and identify the most important knowledge gaps, required for the development of policy and implementation of the holistic intervention plan. Results The study identified numerous and strong deficiencies across the total care of road accident victims management spectrum. The results suggest that a broad-scope intervention is needed, although even smaller-scale effects on elements of total care may yield improvements in specific areas. We also detected a substantial need for more primary studies that can provide relevant data for policy. Conclusion This study identified numerous problems, which need to be further explored and quantified, before a more systematic intervention can be applied across the country, aiming to reduce the negative health consequences of road accidents.