Effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on emergency department attendances for pediatric injuries in Mozambique’s central hospitals: an interrupted time series and a comparison within the restriction periods between 2019 and 2020

Objectives Hospital-based studies indicate that restriction measures imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic have affected number and characteristics of pediatric injuries. However, few been conducted in resource-poor countries. This study aimed to determine whether injury-related emergency department (ED) attendances Mozambique were periods 2020 how pattern injury changed. Methods faced two 2020. An interrupted time series was applied weekly data injuries from ED records four central hospitals 2019 Weekly numbers modeled using a Poisson regression model estimate effect restrictions on trends over calendar time. Then, for each period, differences mechanisms, severity, need surgery, intensive care unit (ICU) compared between Results During 76 weeks preceding restrictions, there stable trend attendances. The dropped by 48.7% after implementation first restrictions. By end 2020, back levels observed before Road traffic (RTIs) falls period RTIs burns second. There an increase 80% ICU all at three second periods. Conclusion yielded reduction seen Mozambique’s hospitals, above falls. drop reflects reductions visits most importantly RTIs, falls, burns, but accompanied proportion cases. not maintained when relaxed. Whether this reduced exposure or hesitancy seek remains be determined. Level evidence III, retrospective with up negative criteria.