A Study on fatal Road Traffic Accidents & its

associated risk factors in Hyderabad, AP.

AUTHOR .

DR.SUNIL PAL SINGH. C

PG STUDENT. DR.CH.KOTESHWARI.MD ASSISTANT PROFESSOR.

DR.D.RAVI BABU .DPH,MD PROFESSOR.

DR.G.KASHI RAM. MD. PROFESSOR AND HEAD

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY MEDICINE. OSMANIA MEDICAL COLLEGE,HYDERABAD,AP 1

INTRODUCTIONRTA is a major public health problem

mortality rates 5-10/ 1000 populationinjury incidence 70-140 per 1000 population

(Guru Raj and Suryanarayana 2004). The problem can be solved by simple scientific methods like safe roads, safe drivers and safe vehicle.

Recent trends of Road Traffic Accidents (RTA) :

Represent a major epidemic of non-communicable disease

Responsible for 2.1% of all deaths globally (2004)

[Textbook of public health &community medicine by Rajvir Bhalwar].

10% of deaths in 05 – 55 yrs age group are due to RTA.

The average cost of RTA - 1-2%0f GNP (WHO TRS 781). Of which out- of- pocket expenditure is about 80%.

-

Fatal Road Traffic Accident -Projections

Fatal Road Traffic Accident is defined as any person who was killed outright or who died in 30 days as a result of the accident.

AIM AND OBJECTIVES

1. To identify the various factors which are responsible for fatal Road Traffic Accidents in Hyderabad,AP

2. To identify the accident prone zones.

3. To suggest preventive measures .

It is a cross-sectional, record based, retrospective study .

METHODOLOGYSTUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study based on post mortem records (Forensic Medicine Department).STUDY AREA: A total 52 police stations of Hyderabad city.

STUDY PERIOD: 6 months(June2010-Nov 2010)

SAMPLE SIZE: Total number of fatal RTA’s occurred during the study period which were having complete information were included in the study ( 301 /310 reported cases).

STUDY TOOLS: Post-mortem records from hospital, Panchanama reports from respective police station.

ANALYSIS: Microsoft Excel 2007 used for data entry. Chi-square test to know the strength of association between the risk factor and fatal RTA by using Epi-info version 3.5.2

RESULT PRESENTATION: percentages, tables, bar-charts, pie diagrams

1.33

6.31

28.24

22.92

17.61

12.29

7.97

3.32

0.00

5.00

10.00

15.00

20.00

25.00

30.00

0-9yr 10-19 yrs 20-29yrs 30-39yrs 40-49yrs 50-59yrs 60-69yrs >70 Years

%of

Death

Age groups

AGE WISE DISTRIBUTION OF FATAL ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS

Higher Fatal RTA were seen in age group of 20-39 YEARS (>51%) .

87.65

100.00

78.98

92.5986.95

12.35

0.00

21.027.41

13.05

0.00

20.00

40.00

60.00

80.00

100.00

120.00

PED Cycle MTV 3 Wheeler 4 Wheeler

%

OF

Deaths

MODE OF TRANSPORT

Males Females

SEX AND MODE OF TRANSPORT

Majority population who met fatal RTA were motorized two wheeler vehicles (MTV) and pedestrians.

Monday18%

Tuesday8%

Wednesday11%

Thursday11%

Friday14%

Saturday18%

Sunday20%

Fatal RTA are more during week ends.

WEEK DAYS WISE DISTRIBUTION OF FATAL ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS

MONTH WISE DISTRIBUTION OF ACCIDENT

More number of accidents were observed during the months of June and July.

AREA –WISE DISTRIBUTION OF FATAL ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENT.

The present study shows that Keesara and Kukatpally police station areas were more accident prone zones.

PLACE OF DEATH

Out of total fatal RTA s about 28.57% were spot deaths.

CAUSE OF THE DEATH

The most common cause of death is multiple injuries.

70.90%

4.20%

29.10%

95.80%

0.00%

20.00%

40.00%

60.00%

80.00%

100.00%

120.00%

Time of accident 12am -6am accidents occurred during day and evening time

%of

deaths

Time of Accidents

spot death yes

spot death no

TIME OF ACCIDENT AND SPOT DEATH

Out of total fatal RTAs occurred during 12 midnight to 6am about 70.90% were spot deaths where as it was reverse in other timings. This observed difference was statistically significant (p<0.001).

40.60%

5.45%

59.40%

94.55%

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

70.00%

80.00%

90.00%

100.00%

alcohol (+) alcohol (-)

%

of

Death

Under the influence of alcohold

spot death (+)

spot death (-)

ALCOHOL AND SPOT DEATH

Statistically significantly percentage of spot deaths were observed among alcoholics than non- alcoholics (p<0.01).

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

70.00%

80.00%

90.00%

High speed (+) High speed (-)

85.10%

17.70%14.90%

82.30%%

o

f

s

p

o

t

d

e

a

t

h

speed

Head injury Yes

Head injury No

SPOT DEATH VS HIGH SPEED AND HEAD INJURY

Statistically significant percentage of spot deaths were occurred due to high speed resulting in head injury (P<0.01).

74.44%

83.33%

25.56%

16.67%

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

70.00%

80.00%

90.00%

Helmet (+) Helmet (-)

%

of

Injured

Head injury yes

Head injury No

HELMET AND HEAD INJURY

More percentage of head injuries occurred among helmet users than non-helmet users (p>0.05).

MODE OF TRANSPORT AND CAUSE OF DEATH

*Mutiple injuries were found to be most common cause of death in pedestrain ,three wheelers and mtv. *Head injury is more common in four wheelers and cyclists.

CONCLUSIONS:• The male gender and young adults ( 20-39 yrs) were more

prone for the fatal Road Traffic Accidents.

• Motorized two wheelers were at high risk of fatal road traffic accidents.

• Fatal RTA are more during weekends and during the months of June and July.

• Spot deaths are more in accidents which occurred between 12:00am -6;00am.

• Multiple injuries is the most common cause of death followed by Head injury .

• Over speed and inebriation were the significant factors for the majority of the head injuries resulting fatal accidents.

1. Safety awareness should begin from childhood and it should be intensified at young adults.

2. Driving license should be issued after proper verification and foolproof documentation.

3. Rest rooms must be provided for every 80 km.

4. Helmet for motorized two wheeler riders as well as pillions and seat belt for four wheeler must be implemented strictly.

5. Separate lane system for high speed vehicles and speed limitation must be implemented strictly.

6. Drunken driving must be curbed using breath analyzers on highly accident prone roads.

7. Compensation should made very huge, making accidents unaffordable so that everyone will be vigilant.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Dr. Siddappa Gaurav, Principal, Osmania Medical College. Hyderabad. Dr. Narayana Reddy, professor and HOD, Forensic Medicine. Osmania Medical College.

Dr.Ravinder Reddy ,professor and HOD, Forensic Medicine. Gandhi Medical College.

THANK YOU