Epidemiology Of Road Traffic Injuries Research Articles

Epidemiology of traffic injuries and motor vehicles utilization in the capital of Iran: a population based study.

BackgroundRoad traffic injuries are a serious public health problem worldwide. The incidence rate of fatal road traffic injuries is 26.4 per 100000 in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. Road traffic injuries are a major public health problem in Iran. Different routine sources are available for road traffic injuries in Iran, but they present several limitations.This study aimed to determine the epidemiology of road traffic injuries in greater Tehran, using a population-based approach which is less prone to under-estimation compared to service-based data.MethodsIn the year 2008, 2488 households were randomly selected for a face to face interview. Trained interviewers referred to the selected households to collect the subjects' demographic information, as well as their motor vehicle utilization and traffic injuries during the year prior to data collection. All interviews were recorded using a digital voice recorder and reviewed by a quality control team the day after the interview. The Student's t-test and ANOVA were used to analyze continuous variables. Chi-square test -including a test for trend for ordinal data- was used to analyze categorical variables. Ninety-five percent confidence interval was calculated for point estimates of incidences using Poisson or binomial distribution assumptions accordingly.ResultsThere were 119 traffic injury cases including 3 deaths (33 per 100 000) in the survey sample (n = 9100). The annual incidence of all traffic injuries for 1000 population was 13.1 (95% CI: 10.8 - 15.6), and that of fatal traffic injuries was 33.0 per 100 000 population (95% CI: 6.80 - 96.32). The annual incidence of collision traffic injury for 1000 motorcycles was 95.ConclusionThis population-based study demonstrates that the morbidity rate of RTIs is about ten times higher than the national figures reported by other available sources; and this can serve as an important warning to countries like Iran to prioritize this issue in their public health activities. To ensure more safety on our roads, we need to establish an injury surveillance system, and a more accurate national data capture system on RTIs.

Epidemiology of road traffic injuries: interest of health surveys

The Belgian situation in road safety is one of the poorer in European Union. Moreover, the barometers of road safety show, between 2006 and 2007, increases of 4.6% in accidents...

The epidemiology of road traffic injuries in the Republic of Lithuania, 1998-2007

This article highlights the epidemiology of road traffic injury (RTI) in Lithuania between 1998 and 2007. The purpose of this study is to explore the incidence of RTI, age-standardized mortality rates (ASMR), gender-specific rates and the RTI profile of different user groups. In doing so, this analysis attempts to emphasize the need for RTI prevention policies and programmes. Six databases were analysed using ICD-10 codes V01-V99, pertaining to the causes of road traffic crashes. Data between 1998 and 2007 were obtained from these databases to identify and calculate RTI incidence and mortality rates. This was then analysed with regard to ASMR, gender, user groups and the use of alcohol. In 2007, RTI incidence in Lithuania was reported as 270/100,000 people, 10.7% higher than in 1998. ASMR declined from 28 deaths per 100,000 in 1998 to 25 deaths per 100,000 in 2007. Between 1998 and 2007, the male ASMR declined from 46 to 40 deaths per 100,000 and the female ASMR decreased from 13 to 11 deaths per 100,000. Car occupant and pedestrian fatalities comprised 87% of all RTI deaths. Thirty-four percent of those injured and 21% of the dead were under influence of alcohol. From 1998 to 2007, the incidence of RTI has worsened and mortality rates remain high in Lithuania. Alcohol remains a prominent risk factor of traffic injury and death. The need to develop effective prevention programmes to address traffic injury is essential.

Quirks of Mass Accident Data Bases

Most of our knowledge of road traffic injury epidemiology comes from national accident data collection systems. The introduction of new European legislation and targets makes it important for such databases to be compatible and comparable. Two international data collection programs are aimed at this: the CARE activity (Community Road Accident Database) for the EU and IRTAD (International Road Traffic Accident Database). The differences between national databases within the EU for collection of data on fatalities are outlined with respect to definitions of a traffic fatality and the exclusion of confirmed suicides and natural deaths. All EU member states have national databases that record the number of surviving casualties, dividing them into 'serious', and 'slight' categories. The countries vary in their definition of 'serious' and 'slight'. Under-reporting of casualties is likely to be widespread throughout the EU.

Limitations of Secondary Data Sets for Road Traffic Injury Epidemiology:

Objectives. To evaluate the completeness of descriptive information andaccuracy of ambulance data when compared with two other secondary sources of data, namely, medical examiners' reports andmedical records, in the city of Karachi, Pakistan. Methods. A retrospective chart review was carried out of all road traffic injury (RTI) victims transported by an ambulance service in Karachi from January 1 to December 31, 2003. Information on the name, age, andgender of the victim, date, time, andplace of injury, andtype of injury andits outcome was obtained, andthen compared with medical examiners' data andinpatient medical records. The variables missing in the ambulance service database were identified. Results. The ambulance service transported 1,245 RTI patients during 2003, 81% of whom were taken to one of three trauma centers. Twenty percent died before reaching hospital. There were missing variables in 340 (27%) cases, the majority of which were the unique identifiers such as name andage (67%). Data on other variables were reported in 95% or more cases. None of the medical examiners' reports or inpatient medical records contained a description of event of injury. The agreement rate for the variables available in the three data sets ranged from 61% to 100%. Conclusion. Secondary data on injuries, such as ambulance reports, medical examiners' reports, andmedical records, have significant limitations. In Karachi, except with regard to unique identifiers, ambulance data seem to provide information just as accurate as that in medical examiners' andinpatient medical records.