Trends in Prevalent Injuries among Iranian Pilgrims in Hajj

Abstract

Background: Annually millions of Muslims depart to Saudi Arabia for performing a religious pilgrimage called "Hajj". In this ceremony, pilgrims face numerous health hazards and injuries such as pressing in overcrowding, sliding, burning, fal­ling down, traffic accidents etc. The main purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of injuries in Hajj period across 2004 to 2008.
Methods: This study was conducted on 253808 Iranian pilgrims on five consecutive years of Hajj ceremonies, from 2004 to 2008. We used a report sheet with 13 types of injuries and 13 mechanisms of these injuries.  SPSS V13.5 soft ware was used for analyzing the data. ANOVA and independent sample t- test was conducted, and relationships were considered signifi­cant at P< 0.05.
Results: The most common injuries was "tissue contusions and ruptures "(about 76/10000), and "tendon lesions" (about 62/10000). In addition, the most common mechanism of injuries was "ankle sprain" (69/10000) during the five consecu­tive years. The prevalence of all fractures was about 49/10000 and the proportion of burning with hot water or fire was about 40/10000. Changes of all causes of the injuries were significant in this study (P< 0.05).
Conclusions: We have suggested some directions for preventing of injuries and related Injuries in Hajj, in this study.