ABSTRACT
In Iran there are about 70 deaths per day due to road traffic injuries [RTIs]. Some interventions have been carried out during the past 5 years, however the trend and role of interventions to decrease death and morbidity rates from RTIs has not been evaluated. This study aimed to present the epidemiological pattern of RTIs in Iran during years 2004 to 2007 and comparison of epidemiological measures of RTIs before and 2 years after the four traffic police enforcements and preventive programs. Source of data was 4 year databases from two sources [Traffic Police and Iranian Legal Medicine Organization]. Data were computerized and analyzed. The morbidity and death incidence rates per 10 000 vehicles and per 100.000 population calculated, and odds ratios [ORs] and 95% confidence Interval for ORs were measured for before and 2 years after these national interventional programs. The interventions were obligatory rules for use of seat belt, enforcements of laws and legislations such as some specific road plans in special occasions, educational program campaigns using the national radio and television, and mandatory rules of wearing helmet for motorcyclists taken place nationally by traffic police of Iran. The number of automobiles and all vehicles had 43.1% and 58% increase during the study duration. Two years after the interventional programs there was a decrease rate of deaths from RTIs per 100.000 population [OR= 0.83, 95% CI=0.82-0.85], and per 10.000 vehicles [OR= 0.56, 95% CI= 0.55-0.57] in Iran. There was also a significant decrease for morbidity rate from RTIs per 10.000 vehicles after the interventions [OR= 0.68, 95% CI= 0.67-0.68]. These findings showed the effectiveness of traffic police interventions in Iran on fatal and nonfatal road traffic injuries