Abstract
Background: Many developing countries are facing the problem of rapidly rising death rate from fatal accidents involving motorcycles. Objective: To determine the effect of participation and implementation of the World Health Organization (WHO) Safe Community Programme on death rate from fatal motorcycle accidents. Methods: Motorcycle’ fatal accident data were obtained from forensic medicine departments and hospital records in 11 cities located in three provinces in Iran during 2006-2007. Data were analyzed using chi-square and ANOVA tests. Fidelity of the data was safeguarded by using national security coding for each individual involved in the accident. Results: The highest death rate was found in the Fars province followed by Khorasan and Bushehr provinces. In Fars province, the highest mortality rate was found in Niriz city, which did not implement the Safe Community Programme and the lowest death rate was reported from Arsanjan city participating in Safe Community. Similar results were found in the Khorasan province. In Busher province, the highest death rate was found in Busher city participating in the program and the lowest in Genaveh city—not participating in the program. Among sex and age groups, males aged 19 - 39 years old had a highest death rate. Half of the death occurred at the accident scene—25% during a transfer to the hospital and 25% of death occurred at the hospital. Conclusions: The Safe Community Programme is a promising model to prevent death from fatal motorcycle accidents in urban areas in Iran.
Highlights
Road traffic injuries accounting for ninth leading cause of death contribute significantly the burden of disease throughout the world, in developing countries [1]-[3]
To determine the effect of participation in the World Health Organization (WHO) Safe Community Programme on death rate from fatal motorcycle accidents in 11 cities located in three provinces in Iran
Khorasan province with more than 65% of the motorcyclists has the highest rate among the 3 provinces in this study
Summary
Road traffic injuries accounting for ninth leading cause of death contribute significantly the burden of disease throughout the world, in developing countries [1]-[3]. Results from large-scale studies have suggested that injury and death rates decrease when helmet use rates increase with the implementation of the law [7] [8]. In both developing and developed countries, resistance to legislation on motorcycle helmets still coexists with debate on the effectiveness of motorcycle helmets in reducing morbidity and mortality. Many developing countries are facing the problem of rapidly rising death rate from fatal accidents involving motorcycles. Objective: To determine the effect of participation and implementation of the World Health Organization (WHO) Safe Community Programme on death rate from fatal motorcycle accidents.
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