Trends and Contributing Factors to Road Traffic Accidents in Douala

Abstract

Introduction: An estimated 1.2 million people are killed in road traffic accidents each year, and as many as 50 million are injured, occupying 30 percent to 70 percent of orthopedic beds in developing countries hospitals. But there is limited information on the burden of RTA in Douala. Aim: The study aims at reporting the epidemiology and pattern of road traffic related injuries in Douala in the Littoral Region of Cameroon using available police and health data. Methods: This was a chart review of hospital based and police department records. The records were reviewed over a period of two years in a District hospital in Douala in the Littoral region of Cameroon and over four years in the Police Department in Douala. The data review was done for two months. The records of all patients received in the emergency department of Bonassama District hospital after a road traffic related injury were reviewed for epidemiological variables, type of vehicle involved, severity of injuries, and outcome of the management. For the police records, they were reviewed for epidemiological variables, type of vehicle involved, and the causes of accident. Results: A total of 2,062 persons were involved in 818 cases of road traffic accidents reported by the police department. The major causes of road traffic accident (RTA) included poor mastery of driving, over speeding and left driving. From the Police records, RTA involving a vehicle and motorcycle increased dramatically in the four-year period from 0.39 % (8) in 2015 to 5.82% (120) in 2018. A total of 1,883 persons with injuries from RTA were received and managed by the Bonassama District Hospital. Majority, 1,590(84.4%) [95% CI: 82.7%-86.1%] of the injuries that were managed in the health units were sustained from RTA involving the motorcycle. Most, 893(47.4%) [95% CI: 45.2%-49.7%] of the accidents occurred during the night hours. Conclusion: The available data in both health and police sectors revealed that there was an increase in the number of RTA in the years under study.