Patterns of road traffic injuries at two tertiary care hospitals of Quetta, Baluchistancby Abdul Rahim Agha.
Date of Award
2007
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Health Policy & Management (MSc Health Policy & Mgmt)
Department
Community Health Sciences
Abstract
Introduction Globally road traffic injuries are ranked 10th among the leading causes of death and 9th among the leading cause of disability. Young people of 15-45 ages are the main victims of road traffic injuries. Main causes of this abrupt rise in RTIs are urbanization and rapid increase in motorization. RTIs in developing countries affect the working group and children. The first injury survey of Pakistan revealed that most common victims of RTIs in Pakistan are young people of productive age ranging from 15-45 years of age. Labors and vendors were commonly injured in road crashes. The issue of RTIs is to be addressed by policy makers to save the lives of people. The study determine the pattern of road taffic injuries presenting to two tertiary care hospitals in Quetta and to explore the factors responsible for the road traffic injuries and its consequences (pre event, event and post event). Methodology The study was conducted using mix method, qualitative and quantitative. In first step, a quantitative study was conducted for pattern and proportions of road traffic injuries. In second step, a qualitative study was conducted to explore the factors of road traffic injuries. The study was conducted in two tertiary care hospitals of Quetta. These are the two major public sector hospitals of Quetta affiliated with Bolan Medical College and Post Graduate Medical Institute. The study participants were victims of road traffic injuries presented to ER of these hospitals. For qualitative component doctors, police officers and transporters were considered from ER of two tertiary care hospitals, district and traffic police of Quetta and bus/truck owners of Quetta district. Results Total number of road traffic injuries presented to the ER in one moth period was 351. Mean age of the RTIs victim was 31.64 (±9.59) years. Out of all 351 RTIs victims 77.5% (204) were in age group of 16-30 years. Pashtoon were common ethnic group 57.5% (202) among all the injured persons because of their dense population. Due to the low literacy rate in Baluchistan among all the respondents common victims were 50.4% (177) having no schooling. Motorcyclists were highest in number, 34.5% (121) among all the RTI victims. 25.6% (90) passengers of different vehicles were injured. Of all the injured persons 68.3% (240) were reached the ER in one hour the rest were taken 4 or more than 4 hours to reach the hospitals. The common injuries were 43.6% (153) had fractures of different bones, 45.0% (158) had sprain, bruise was 58.4% (205) and patients with open wound were 33.3% (117). All of the participants of qualitative component of the study revealed that the common victims of RTIs are motorcyclists, pedestrians and people of young age group. Common risk factors highlighted were over speeding, poor road design, road engineering, lack of road signs, illiteracy, lack of driver's training and over burden of vehicles. Improvement of existing health facility, establishment of motor training schools and enforcement of traffic rules were insisted for prevention of RTIs. Conclusion The study indicates that the commonly injured persons were young people of productive age. The study revealed that most of the RTIs victims got injury on highways. Motor cyclists were the common victims of RTIs. Motor cyclists and pedestrians were the most vulnerable groups who got more injuries in a road crash.
Recommended Citation
Agha, A. R. (2007). Patterns of road traffic injuries at two tertiary care hospitals of Quetta, Baluchistancby Abdul Rahim Agha. (Unpublished doctoral thesis). Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.