ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS

STUDY OF RISK FACTORS

Abstract

Context : Road traffic accidents are a major yet neglected public
health problem in developing countries. Trends in motorization indicate an increase in road traffic injuries;
furthermore, by 2020, they could rank third in the order of burden of disease Road traffic accidents are an important
yet preventable cause of death and disability in developing countries, like Pakistan. Objective: To explore
preventable aspects of the road traffic accidents. Design: Cross sectional study Setting: Casualty department of
District Head Quarter Teaching hospital Dera Ismail Khan. Patients & Methods: All non-fatal and non-comatose
cases of road traffic accidents victims reporting to casualty department were included in the study. The victims of
the accidents were interviewed to obtain information about circumstances leading to accidents. The information
collected comprised: time of accidents, nature of injury, narcotic consumption of driver, condition of road and
vehicle, safety belts, road signs and vehicle speed beside demographic characteristics of respondents. Results:
Age revealed that age group 21-25 years were highly affected 18 % while age group 51-55 years were least
affected 2 %. Among them were male 76 % and were female 24%. 93 victims belong to rural area ( 62%) while 57
were from urban (38%). Among victims, 37% were motorcyclist, 23% bicyclist , 22% motorized two-wheelers and
18% bus users. The accidents were more common during the daytime in 100 cases (66%). Fractures of bones was
common injury in 90 cases (60%) afflicted to the victims followed by multiple injuries like blunt injuries, abrasions
and lacerations. Among victims , only 2% used protective helmets. All helmet users were motorcyclists. No seat
belts were found to have been used by the victims. There was no evidence of any narcotics consumption by the
driver prior to accidents. Conclusion: Road traffic accidents are predictable and preventable but good data is
important to understand the ways in which road safety interventions can be effective. Cost-effective preventive
measures can be designed to address this global problem.