Objectives This study aimed to investigate how trauma characteristics and outcomes differ between genders in a rural hospital.

Methods Records of trauma patients admitted to a state emergency department (ED) in eastern Turkey, between January 2006 and December 2007 were reviewed and data were analysed based on gender.

Results In total, 5379 (87.0%) men and 806 (13.0%) women, totalling 6185 patients, were assessed. Mean age was 26.5 (1 month – 80 years) years for men and 24.7 (2 month – 81 years) years for women. Men comprised 90.2%, 81.3% and 77.3% of the patients injured by assault, motor vehicle incidents and falls, respectively. Women comprised a significantly larger share of suicide attempts (70.8%) than men. Of the men injured, 90.6% were discharged after treatment in the ED. The per cent of hospitalised women (5.8%) was increased compared with the per cent of hospitalised men (p=0.011). There was a higher frequency of transfer among women (8.6%) when compared with men (p<0.001). Women had a mortality frequency of 1.2%, which was similar to the mortality per cent calculated for men.

Conclusions Men were at an increased risk for trauma, especially assault. The percentage of women injured and admitted to the ED due to assault was low compared with statistics reported in the literature. However, assault is the most common cause of trauma among women. The high per cent of hospitalisation and transfer among women may indicate that women are exposed to more severe trauma, and therefore experience increased morbidity compared with men.