Epidemiological Correlates and Pattern of Injuries in Road Traffic Accident Victims Attending a Tertiary Care Hospital in Northern India
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70284/njirm.v9i3.2344Keywords:
Road traffic injury; factors; pattern, tertiary care hospital, Northern IndiaAbstract
Background: Road Traffic Accidents (RTAs) are major public health concerns exerting a huge burden on the health system. According to WHO, 1.2 million people lose their lives every year owing to RTAs.Objective: To find out the pattern of injuries among patients of RTAs presenting to a tertiary care hospital of Uttarakhand and to find the association between RTAs and various factors.Method: All the eligible patients or their care takers attending the emergency department were interviewed after taking informed consent over a period of one year. Results: Overall 717 respondents were interviewed. The mean age of the victims was 34.0 years ±15.093. Significantly more accidents took place between 6:00 PM and midnight (41.6%) and on the highways (69.2%). Two wheelers were responsible for majority (60.1%) of the accidents. Head injuries (25.6%) were most common, closely followed by lower limb injuries/ fractures (23.8%). Head injuries were significantly more in 2-wheeler riders, who did not wear helmets.Conclusion: RTA is preventable non-communicable disease which is on rise due to ignorance and non-compliance of traffic rules as well as bad conditions of roads. Stringent road and traffic policies are required which are to be followed with strict compliance. [A Juyal, Natl J Integr Res Med, 2018; 9(3):9-13]
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