Economics of global burden of road traffic injuries and their relationship with health system variables

To estimate the economic loss due to road traffic injuries [RTIs] of the World Health Organization [WHO] member countries and to explore the relationship between the economic loss and relevant health system factors. Data from the World Bank and the WHO were applied to set up the databases. Disability-adjusted life year [DALY] and gross domestic product per capita were used to estimate the economic loss relating to RTIs. Regression analysis was used. Data were analyzed by IBM SPSS Statistics, Versions 20.0. In 2005, the total economic loss of RTIs was estimated to be 167,752.4 million United States Dollars. High income countries [HIC] showed the greatest economic losses. The majority [96%] of the top 25 countries with the greatest DALY losses are low and middle income countries while 48% of the top 25 countries with the highest economic losses are HIC. The linear regression model indicates an inverse relationship between nurse density in the health system and economic loss due to RTI. RTIs cause enormous death and DALYs loss in low-middle income countries and enormous economic loss in HIC. More road traffic prevention programs should be promoted in these areas to reduce both incidence and economic burden of RTIs

Economic cost of childhood unintentional injuries

This study aims to review the economic cost of childhood [0-18 years] unintentional injuries [UI] and focuses upon comparing the cost burden between developing and developed countries. Articles were selected from PUBMED using the search words "Economic Cost", "Unintentional injuries" and "Children". Nine articles were selected. Studies in China focused upon cost to hospitals, in Bangladesh they focused on personal payment in rural areas, and in Vietnam they focused upon community-based cost analysis. There was one study from Norway on UI at home. There were 5 articles from the USA focusing on submersion injury, UI insurance, unintentional traumatic brain injury, UI due to firearms and UI medical costs. The cost of childhood UI is enormous, ranging from US $516,938 to US $9,550,704 per year. This represents a large economic burden on society. Additionally, there is a large gap between lower-middle income countries [LMIC] and high income countries [HIC] in the burden of injury, injury health care and insurance systems. Different bases and contexts of studies make it difficult to draw a solid conclusion about the amount of costs of UI among children. Therefore, more studies of children's unintentional injuries should be carried out in low and middle income countries