Prevalence of road traffic accident in children: retrospective study in tertiary centre

Authors

  • Mallikarjuna G. P. Department of Pediatrics, SSIMS and RC, Davangere, Karnataka, India
  • Latha G. S. Department of Pediatrics, SSIMS and RC, Davangere, Karnataka, India
  • Veeresh Babu D. V. Department of Pediatrics, SSIMS and RC, Davangere, Karnataka, India
  • Thejraj H. K. Department of Pediatrics, SSIMS and RC, Davangere, Karnataka, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2349-3291.ijcp20170692

Keywords:

Accidents, Children, Death, Education, Fatalities, Injury

Abstract

Background: Road traffic accidents (RTA) are the leading cause of unnatural deaths in the world and a major burden on the world’s economy. The aim was to study the prevalence of road traffic accident among children.

Methods: It is a retrospective cross sectional study. Data collected from the hospital records in PICU. Children studied are either admitted directly for road traffic accident or referred to our centre for complicated injuries. children of 1 to 18 years are studied, details of address, locality (either rural, urban) road safety precautions used, mode of injury, type of vehicle, type of injury, number of passengers, complications, outcome of injury are collected and entered in prescribed proforma, and impact of each one is analysed and magnitude is studied. Study period was from June 2014 to June 2016.

Results: This study shows that road traffic accident prevalence is more in 15-18 year age group (31%), and males are affected more commonly (79.5%), among these majority of children were from rural area (73%), more common type of injury were complicated injuries (85.1%). Children travelling in 2 wheelers were affected more (74.9%). Results analysed with age of victims and type of injury, p value <0.05 is considered significant.

Conclusions: To bring the mortality rate down, children especially with rural background should be made aware about the importance of strict compliance to traffic rules and regulations. Government need to start implementing traffic rules awareness programme among rural people.

References

Aarts L, Schagen VI. Driving speed and the risk of road crashes: a review. Accident Analysis Prevention. 2006;38:215-24.

Dandona R, Kumar GA, Aerating S, Dandona L. Road use pattern and risk factors for non-fatal road traffic injuries among children in urban India. Injury. 2011;42(1):97-103.

Accidental deaths and suicides in India 2014. New Delhi. Available at http:// ncrb.nic.in/ StatPublications/ ADSI/ ADSI2014/adsi-2014%2 0full% 20report.pdf. Accessed on 13 July 2016.

W.H.O. Global status report on road safety 2015. Geneva: World Health Organization. 2015.

Third African Road Safety congress. Available at http://www.worldbank.org/transport/publicate/b28. Accessed on 13 July 2016.

Gururaj G, Uthkarsh PS, Rao GN, Jayaram AN, Panduranganath V. Burden, pattern and outcomes of road traffic injuries in a rural district of India. Int J Inj Contr Saf Promot. 2016;23(1):64-71.

Mohan D. Road accidents in India. J Int Asso Traffic Safety Sci. 2009;33:75-9.

Saija K, Patel C, Sureja G. Spectrum analysis of road accidents - a case study. Indian Highways. 2000;28:29-41.

Saija KK, Patel CD. Micro level study of accidents on NH-8 passing through Valsad district. Indian Highways. 2002;30:43-51.

Kumar P. Road safety for vulnerable road users: some issues and suggestions. Indian Highways. 2000;28:21-6.

Kumar RP, Venkatramayya V, Kashinath T. Macro level study of road accidents on Dindigul- Palani section of NH-209. Indian Highways. 2004;32:31-8.

Shaheem S, Mohammed KMS, Rajeevan. Evaluation of cost effectiveness of improvements of accident prone locations on NH-47 in Kerala state. Indian Highways. 2006;34:35-46.

Downloads

Published

2017-02-22

Issue

Section

Original Research Articles