Abstract
IntroductionRoad traffic accidents are leading cause of injuries and deaths globally. Low income economies are the most affected. Most causes of RTA are predictable and preventable. This study describes trends and causes of road traffic accidents in Anambra State, South Eastern Nigeria.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective study of road traffic accidents from 2010 to 2014. Data were obtained from the Federal Road Safety Commission, Anambra State Command. Information extracted included sex, age, cause of accidents, number of people and type of vehicles involved. Cases were recorded as fatal if any victim died, serious if any victim was hospitalized for more than 24 hours and minor if any victim was hospitalized for less than 24 hours. Causes of accidents were classified into human, mechanical, and climatic factors. Univariate analysis to generate frequencies and proportions was conducted using Microsoft Office Excel 2007.ResultsA total of 1,141 road traffic accidents consisting 271 fatalities, 652 serious and 218 minor cases were recorded in Anambra State from 2010-2014. Seven thousand, four hundred and forty-four persons involving 1,816 vehicles were involved in RTA that resulted in 448 deaths and 2,785 injuries. More deaths 348 (77%) and injuries 2009 (72%) occurred more in males than females. Major causes of road traffic accidents were loss of vehicle control 256 (17%) and speed violation 207 (14%). There was an increased number of persons involved in RTA in 2014 (1,842) compared with 2010 (299). In all, 3,233 casualties (deaths and injuries) and crashes (fatal, serious and minor) were recorded out of which 900 (27.8%) casualties and 294 (9.1%) crashes occurred in 2013.ConclusionLeading causes of road traffic accidents are human factors; speed violation, loss of vehicle control and dangerous driving which are sadly preventable. Sensitization and enforcement of safe road principles among commercial vehicles and car drivers will help curb this menace. Government at all levels should implement strong policies aimed at reducing the speed of vehicles on roads.
Highlights
The term accident refers to any incident, occurring suddenly, unpredictably and unintentionally usually under known or unknown circumstances
Road Traffic Accident (RTA) are a major cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries leading to permanent disability and other indirect health consequences
A total of 1,141 RTAs were recorded in Anambra State from January 2010 to December 2014; 271 (23.6%) of these were recorded as fatal cases, 652 (57.1%) serious while 218 (19.1%) were minor cases
Summary
The term accident refers to any incident, occurring suddenly, unpredictably and unintentionally usually under known or unknown circumstances. Road Traffic Accidents usually results in injury, death and property damage [1]. RTAs are a major cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries leading to permanent disability and other indirect health consequences. 2.1% of total deaths and 21% of total injuries have been attributed to RTA with developing and underdeveloped countries including Nigeria accounting for 80% of these deaths [3, 4]. The World Health Organization (WHO) Global Status Report on Road Safety for 2015 reported that the highest proportion of road fatalities for the last decade (approximately one-third of the one million global deaths) occurred in South East Asia. The year 2013 witnessed the highest number of road fatalities which was 334,000. RTAs in Africa has been projected to increase from its 1990 figure of 59,000 cases to 144,000 cases annually by 2020 while developed countries will witness a decline [6]
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