Appraisal of Trauma Care Systems and Pre-Hospital Response in Kano Metropolis, North West Nigeria

Deficiencies in pre-hospital trauma care are a major contributor to preventable trauma mortality in Nigerian urban centres, where organised ambulance services, trained first responders, and triage systems are largely absent. This study appraises the trauma care system and pre-hospital response infrastructure in Kano Metropolis, North West Nigeria. A mixed-methods evaluation design is applied, combining structured interviews with 40 emergency department personnel at three major hospitals, focus group discussions with 30 commercial motorcycle operators and market security personnel who frequently act as first responders, and a review of road traffic crash mortality records from the Kano State Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps for 2021 and 2022. Data from interviews are analysed thematically, and quantitative mortality data are subjected to descriptive analysis in SPSS. Available trauma systems literature from North West Nigeria identifies the absence of a coordinated dispatch system, lack of trained community first responders, and prolonged intervals between injury and emergency department arrival as the primary systemic gaps. The American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma Inclusive Trauma System Model provides the evaluation framework. Findings will support the Kano State Emergency Management Agency in designing a phased pre-hospital trauma care strengthening plan. Keywords: trauma care systems, pre-hospital response, emergency medical services, Kano, North West Nigeria.