Civilt skadepanorama i krig: En litteraturanalys över ett halvt sekel av krig

Abstract

The Centre for Disaster Medicine at the University of Gothenburg has been tasked by the National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen) to compile a knowledge base regarding civilian injury patterns in warfare. This assignment falls within the framework of reestablished planning and the reconstruction of the civilian defense. The assignment also included highlighting potential differences between children and adults, as well as addressing the risk of infections. The systematic review aimed at identifying civilian injury patterns in modern warfare between 1973 and 2023. Out of 2,228 screened search results, 62 scientific articles and reports about civilian injury patterns have been included. The civilian injury pattern is presented as injury distribution per body region: 26% head injuries, 18% chest injuries, 10% abdomen and pelvis injuries, 4% spinal injuries, 32% upper extremity injuries, 18% lower extremity injuries and 16% burn injuries. There is no standardized way or method to report and describe civilian injury outcomes and injury patterns. We observed that there was no consistent reporting of injury distribution in the included studies. Variations in how injuries were reported complicated the synthesis of results. However, it appears that the civilian injury panorama remains relatively constant in its distribution over time despite differing conflicts, geographical spread, and the varying nature of wars. Knowledge about civilian injury patterns in warfare constitutes a part of the dimensioned planning prerequisites in preparedness planning for medical care in times of war.