Epidemiology of Road Traffic Accidents in Emergency Hospital in Erbil City

Abstract

Road traffic accident is considered as a major cause of death worldwide, it has been rapidly increasing to become one of the common causes of increasing mortality and morbidity in the population. A cross-sectional study for a 1 month period of all road traffic accidents and injuries was conducted in Emergency Hospital for the period 1st December 2008 to 1st January, 2009. A total of 180 injuries were encountered at the Emergency Hospital Department. The majority of victims were males, with a male to female ratio of 2.6:1. This study on road traffic accidents reveled that, out of 180 victims, 11% were under 10 years, 53.8% between 11 and 30 years and 41.1% were more than 30 years. Only 25% of those involved in accidents were wearing a seat belt. Most of the accidents and injuries occurred from 8.00 am to 4.00 pm (74%). Head injury was the most frequently noted type of injury (51.8%), followed by lower limbs injury (27.1 %), upper limbs (14.1%), chest (4.7%) and back (2.4%). Road traffic accidents are a major but neglected public health challenge that requires concerted efforts for effective and sustainable prevention. It is mostly affecting young age groups that need comprehensive health educations regarding safety measures of driving in addition to addressing road safety measures to policy makers.