Estudio de las heridas por amoladora tratadas en el Hospital de Clínicas y Hospital Pasteur, Montevideo, Uruguay / Grinder injuries treated at the Clínicas and Pasteur Hospital of Montevideo, Uruguay / Estudo das lesões por esmerilhadeira tratadas no Hospital de Clínicas e Hospital Pasteur, Montevidéu, Uruguai

Resumen: Introducción: las heridas causadas por amoladora representan una consulta frecuente al cirujano plástico en nuestro país. Los objetivos del presente trabajo fueron conocer la epidemiología de los pacientes que consultaban con estas lesiones, conocer las circunstancias del accidente y estudiar si existía relación entre las condiciones de uso de la herramienta y la gravedad de las lesiones. Material y método: se realizó un estudio descriptivo, transversal, donde se recabaron los datos de los pacientes que consultaban por heridas por amoladora en las puertas de emergencia de Hospital Pasteur y Hospital de Clínicas en un período de 6 meses. Resultados: un total de 76 pacientes fueron incluidos en el estudio, la mayoría de sexo masculino, en edad laboral activa (39 a 58 años) dedicados a la realización de trabajos temporales o tareas de construcción, con bajo nivel de instrucción. El 84% de las heridas fueron graves. El 61% de los pacientes no utilizó los elementos de seguridad de la herramienta al momento del accidente. La mayoría de las lesiones se produjeron fuera del ambiente laboral. Conclusiones: en base a nuestro trabajo pudimos establecer el perfil epidemiológico de la población más susceptible de sufrir estas lesiones. Comprobamos que las heridas producidas por amoladora son en su mayoría graves y requieren procedimientos complejos para su resolución.

Summary: Introduction: grinder injuries represent a large number of consultations for plastic surgeons in our country. This study aims to learn about the epidemiological characteristics of patients who consulted for these lesions and the circumstances of the accidents, and to analyze whether there is a relationship between the conditions for tool use and the severity of lesions. Methodology: we conducted a retrospective, descriptive, transversal study where we collected data from the patients who consulted for grinder injuries at the emergency departments of Pasteur and Clínicas Hospital during a 6-month period. Results: seventy-six patients were included in the study, most of which were male working adults (between 39 and 58 years-old) who had temporary jobs or were performing construction works and had low levels of education. 84% of lesions were severe. 61% of patients did not respect safety regulations at the time of the accident. Most lesions occurred out of working hours. Conclusions: based on our study, we could identify the epidemiological profile of the most vulnerable population for this kind of lesions. We proved that most grinder lesions are severe and their management requires complex procedures.

Resumo: Introdução: as lesões causadas por esmerilhadeira são causa frequente de consulta ao cirurgião plástico no Uruguai. Os objetivos do presente trabalho foram conhecer as características dos pacientes que consultaram com essas lesões, conhecer as circunstâncias do acidente e analisar a possível relação entre as condições de uso da ferramenta e a gravidade das lesões. Metodologia: foi realizado um estudo descritivo, transversal, onde foram coletados dados de pacientes que consultaram por lesões de esmerilhadeira no pronto-socorro do Hospital Pasteur e Hospital de Clínicas durante um período de 6 meses. Resultados: foram incluídos no estudo 76 pacientes, a maioria do sexo masculino, em idade ativa para trabalhar (39 a 58 anos) dedicados à realização de trabalhos temporários ou trabalhos na construção civil, com baixo nível de escolaridade. 84% dos ferimentos foram graves. 61% dos pacientes não utilizaram os elementos de segurança da ferramenta no momento do acidente. A maioria das lesões ocorreu fora do ambiente de trabalho. Conclusões: com base em nosso trabalho conseguimos estabelecer o perfil da população mais suscetível a esses agravos. Constatamos que a maioria das lesões causadas por esmerilhadeiras são graves, exigindo procedimentos complexos para sua resolução.

An Analysis of Individual and Social Factors Affecting Occupational Accidents

BACKGROUND: Workforce health is one of the primary and most challenging issues, particularly in industrialized countries. This article aims at modeling the major factors affecting accidents in the workplace, including general health, work-family conflict, effortereward imbalance, and internal and external locus of control. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Esfahan Steel Company in Iran. A total of 450 participants were divided into two groups—control and case—and the questionnaires were distributed among them. Data were collected through a 7-part questionnaire. Finally, the results were analyzed using SPSS 22.0 and Amos software. RESULTS: All the studied variables had a significant relationship with the accident proneness. In the case group, general health with a coefficient of −0.37, work-family conflict with 0.10, effort-reward imbalance with 0.10, internal locus of control with −0.07, and external locus of control with 0.40 had a direct effect on occupational stress. Occupational stress also had a positive direct effect on accident proneness with a coefficient of 0.47. In addition, fitness indices of control group showed general health (−0.35), work-family conflict (0.36), effort-reward imbalance (0.13), internal locus of control (−0.15), and external locus of control (0.12) have a direct effect on occupational stress. Besides, occupational stress with a coefficient of 0.09 had a direct effect on accident proneness. CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that although previous studies and the present study showed the effect of stress on accident and accident proneness, some hidden and external factors such as workefamily conflict, effortereward imbalance, and external locus of control that affect stress should also be considered. It helps industries face less occupational stress and, consequently, less occurrence rates of accidents.

Incidence of accident proneness and its influencing factors in rural children / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the incidence of accident proneness and its influencing factors in rural children.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>By random cluster sampling, 1 560 children were enrolled from one rural area in Hunan Province, China, and were surveyed with self-designed general and injury questionnaires. Unconditional multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to explore the major risk factors for accident-prone children.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>One hundred and forty-seven accident-prone children were screened out and the incidence of accident proneness was 9.42%. Univariate analysis showed that gender (P<0.01), academic record (P<0.01), left-behind status (P<0.05), family type (P<0.05), family economic status (P<0.01), guardian's gender (P<0.05), guardian's marital status (P<0.05), guardian's occupation (P<0.05), and family educational mode (P<0.05) were influencing factors for accident proneness in rural children. Multivariate logistic regression analysis further revealed that low grade (OR=3.683, 95%CI: 1.028-4.283) and very low grade (OR=2.099, 95% CI: 1.587-8.546) in academic record, poverty in family economic status (OR=2.353, 95% CI: 1.222-4.533), and indulgence or indifference (OR=1.914, 95% CI: 1.029-3.559) and fickleness (OR=4.153, 95% CI: 1.847-9.338) in guardian's educational mode were risk factors for accident proneness in rural children, while female gender (OR=0.539, 95% CI: 0.369-0.788) was a protective factor.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Low academic record, poor family economy, and incorrect family education mode (indulgence or indifference and fickleness) would increase the incidence of accident proneness in rural children, but girls have less accident proneness than boys.</p>

Adolescents with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder/learning disability and their proneness to accidents.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to determine if attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)/ learning disability (LD) adolescents are more prone to accidents and to investigate the parental mode of coping with that risk. METHODS: One hundred and eight high school pupils diagnosed with ADHD/LD and studying in an institute of "special education" were examined and interviewed on the subject of accidents. Eighty-seven pupils, studying in a nearby academic high school, served as a control group. RESULTS: The results showed that pupils in the study group had been involved in 0.57 +/- 1.6 accidents (until the present study) in comparison to 0.23 +/- 0.4 accidents in the control group (p=0.001). The accidents in the ADHD/LD study group had occurred at the mean age of 11.1 +/- 3.4 yr. Eight decimal three percent of these pupils had been involved in recurrent accidents. Circumstances and locations where the accidents occurred were: falls while running or participating in sports activities (38.5%), home environment (23%), school environment (19.2%) and road accidents (11.5%). CONCLUSION: The study shows that there is a real risk for ADHD/LD adolescents to be involved in all kinds of accidents. Parents should be counting on the help of professional advisors to decrease that risk. Physicians should caution these adolescents and their parents about that risk and advise them on ways and means of accident prevention.

Influências do envelhecimento, do tempo de evolução da doença e do estado cognitivo sobre os episódios de quedas, em uma população parkinsoniana / Influences of aging, period of disease development and cognitive state on fall episodes in patients with Parkison disease

Episódios de quedas são importantes fatores limitantes no tratamento de pacientes parkinsonianos, provocando a piora inexorável do seu quadro clínico e do seu prognóstico. Esse trabalho tem como objetivo analisar a correlação entre a evolução da idade, o tempo de evolução da doença de Parkinson e alterações no estado cognitivo sobre episódios de quedas de parkinsonianos. Cinqüenta pacientes portadores de doença de Parkinson foram avaliados através de um questionário, com posterior aplicação do teste do Mini Exame do Estado Mental. A análise estatística inferencial (teste de hipóteses com teste T pareado adotando p < 0,05) confirmou a correlação entre o envelhecimento e o nível de disfunção cognitiva crescente dos pacientes. Houve, ainda, relação entre a evolução da DP e o risco aumentado de quedas, entretanto, não se confirmou a hipótese de que alterações cognitivas podem predizer um risco aumentado nos episódios de quedas para essa amostra de parkinsonianos.

Falls are important events during the physical treatment of patients with Parkinson disease, so they may be prevented in order not to exacerbate the clinical signs. The aim of this study was to investigate if there was any direct association among aging, the time of PD evolution and the cognitive changes on fall episodes in PD patients. Fifty subjects with PD were submitted to a preliminary questionnaire and to the Mini Mental Test to evaluate their cognitive state. The statistical analysis (paired T-test with p < 0,05) showed a direct correlation between the cognitive decline and aging, as well as the period of sickness development contributed to the increased fall risk. On the other hand, the cognitive changes were not associated to the increased fall risk.

Supplemental Value of the Wrist-Worn Actigraphy in Diagnosing the Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome / 수면정신생리

OBJECTIVES: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) has drawn increasing attention as medical community has become to be aware of its co-morbidities and complications, especially cardiovascular complications and excessive daytime sleepiness with accident proneness. As of now, polysomnography is the standard tool to diagnose sleep apnea and estimate the treatment validity. However, its being rather expensive and inconvenient, alternate diagnostic tools have been proposed including wrist actigraphy. So far, actigraphies have been adopted usefully to field-survey sleep apnea prevalence. In this study, we attempted in a sleep laboratory setting to assess the supplemental value of actigraphy in diagnosing OSAS. METHODS: This study was done at the Division of Sleep Studies, the Seoul National University Hospital. Thirty-seven clinically suspected cases of OSAS underwent the one-night polysomnography, simultaneously wearing an actigraphy on non-dominant wrist. We analyzed the data of 27 polysomnographically-proven OSAS patients (male: female 20: 7; age 47.6+/-12.9 years old; age range 23 to 72 years) with no other sleep disorders. We calculated RDI (respiratory disturbance index) from the polysomnography data and FI (fragmentation index) from the actigraphy data. Pearson correlation was calculated in order to compare FI with RDI and to evaluate the supplemental diagnostic value of the actigraphy. RESULTS: Mean total sleep time on polysomnography was 401.4+/-57.8 min (range of 274.0 to 514.1 min). Mean RDI was 21.7+/-20.4 /hour. Mean FI was 21.9+/-13.0 / hour. RDI and FI showed significant correlation (r=0.55, p< 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Wrist actigraphy in OSAS patients generates a comparable outcome to polysomnography, in measuring the nocturnal sleep fragmentation. The actigraphy could be used supplementally in inpatients, outpatients, and field survey subjects, if polysomnography is unavailable or impossible. In follow-ups related with nasal CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure), upper airway surgery, and oral appliance in OSAS patients, the actigraphy might play a more dominant role in the future.

Road traffic accident among motor vehicle drivers in selected high ways.

To assess the knowledge of the motor vehicle driver about the causes of road traffic accidents. This cross sectional study was conducted among the 107 motor vehicle drivers of selected Bus & Truck terminal & taxi stands of Dhaka city. The study was carried out during April to June 2002 at the Department of Health Promotion & Health Education of NIPSOM. The study showed about 55.1% learned driving from a friend.Out of 107 respondent 20.6% showed very high speed is one of the reason for road traffic accident.39.3% claimed for poor maintenance of roads. Regarding engine/vehicle defect 46.7% said head light defect. Increased earning is one of the reasons of very fast driving 35.5% respondent opined. These may be the reason of accident proneness of the society along with factor like family pressure, job dissatisfaction etc. Majority of the driver who took part in this study used light vehicle 54.2% and the rest 30.8% were heavy and 15% like medium light vehicle. Most of the respondent 67.3% was working as professional over for 3-6 years. 41.1% for 3 and 26.2% for 6 years. There were significant relationship (p < 0.002) between very fast driving and defective road and also engine defect were highly significant association (p < 0.005) with road traffic accident It is revealed that formal education, driving license through Bangladesh road traffic authority without unnecessary botheration, proper implementation of traffic law, training of drivers and increase level of public awareness through mass communication could reduce the road traffic accident

Infrações e acidentes: tentativas de explicação e de redução / Violations and accidents: explain and decrease attempts

Este artigo apresenta e discute alguns métodos de pesquisa e conceitos de estudo na psicologia do trânsito, notadamente a teoria da propensão ao acidente e a teoria da homeostase do risco. São discutidos, também, os desenvolvimentos na investigação de comportamentos in situ através de recursos tecnológicos como câmeras de vídeo e telefones celulares, assim como o treino de observadores para identificação e técnicas de auto-relato, com seus benefícios e suas limitações. Por fim, é feita uma crítica às campanhas de trânsito brasileiras e à forma como os resultados de pesquisas inconclusivas são generalizados e usados para nortear certas medidas governamentais

Industrial accidents in Sharkia governorate; an epidemiological study

This study has been carried out on 215 accidents-involved workers, enlisted from the accident records in 8 industries during the period [1998-2000], and a control group of 215 workers. All workers were males. The study aimed at evaluation of the magnitude of industrial accident problem, reorganization of the types and causes of accidents, types and sites of injuries and the human factors that increase the vulnerability to industrial accidents. A pre-structured questionnaire sheet was used to inquire about the personal, occupational and medical histories. Eysenck personality inventory was also used to assess the personality on scales of neuroticism and extroversion. The number of accidents was 312, accident Incidence rate was 56.8/ thousand, and accident frequency rate was 7.53/million. The highest accident incidence and frequency rates were in the foundries, the oil and soap plant and the ginning mill, while the lowest were in the flour mill and the spinning and weaving mill. The number of accidents-involved workers was 215[4%]; out of them 146[2.7%] were l-accident workers, 41 [0.8%] were 2- accident workers and 28[0.5%] were 3-accident workers, the latter 2 groups were the accident repeaters [69 workers, 1.3%]. Types of accidents were; striking object [37.8%], slipping and falling [28.5%], flying object [22.8%], trapping between objects [3.9%], falling object [3.5%] and fire and explosion [3.5%]. Causes of accidents were omission of protective measures [31.7%], fatigue and absent mindedness [28.9%], lack of experience [20.8%], lack of maintenance [11.9%] and slippery floor [6.7%]. Sites of injury were; the upper limb [39.8%], the lower limb [27.2%], the head and neck [15.4%], the trunk [9.6%] and the eyes [8%]. Types of injury were; wounds [67%], fractures and sprains [19.9%], burns [9%] and amputations [4.1%]. Human factors that increase the vulnerability to accidents were young age, illiteracy, smoking habit, existence of social problems, suffering chronic diseases and neurotic personality. Industrial accidents can be minimized but can not be prevented due to the human factors that have not been adequately identified. Organizing national initiatives for eradication of illiteracy, encouraging the stopping of smoking, management of chronic physical illnesses and providing socio-economic aids. Young workers must be under supervision and undergo education and training

Development and Effect of Safety Education Program in Preschooler / 아동간호학회지

The purpose of this study was to measure the effect of safety education program in preschool children for accident prevention and improve their health through more systematic method. Data were collected from 584 preschoolers(247 preschooler are assigned to experimental group and 337 preschoolers are assinged to control group) from 4 to 6 years old using APP paper test which consists of questions and drawings. To experimental group, safety education were done 4 times within the time of 30 minutes per 1 time using education books, drawings, OHP. The findings of this study are as follows: 1.There were significant difference in movement( X2=18.732, p=.0000), behavioral character( X2=27.785, p=.000), synthetic judgement( X2=12.02, p=0.002). So, safety education program have effect on preschooler. 2.In the accident proneness on preschooler between experimental group and control group according to general characteristics, it proved significant difference in the case of accident prevention education were done, reasoning power( X2=10.48, p=.005), movement speed( X2=7.341, p=.025) and behavioral character( X2=18.86, p=.000), in the case of housing pattern is private house(individual house, yard?), reasoning power( X2=6.683, p=.035), movement speed( X2=12.76, p= .002) and behavioral character( X2=12.24, p=.002), in the case of housing pattern is mixed-type, movement speed( X2=6.935, p= .031) and behavioral character( X2=10.816, p=.004), in the case of housing pattern is over six stories, movement speed( X2=7.543, p=.023), in the case of subjects' age is 4 years old, movement speed( X2=16.5, p= .000) and behavioral character( X2=12.18, p=.002), in the case of subjects' age is 5 years old, movement speed( X2=7.519, p= .023), watchfulness( X2=6.372, p=.041), behavioral character( X2=14.74, p=0.001) and synthetic judgement( X2=14.5, p=.001), in the case of subjects' sex is male, life safety( X2=6.406, p=.041), movment speed( X2=22.86, p= .000), behavioral character( X2=13.72, p= .001) and synthetic judgement( X2=13.82, p=.001), in the case of subjects' sex is female, reasoning power( X2=12.57, p=.002) and behavioral character( X2=13.16, p= .001), in the case of childrens have past accidental experience, traffic safety( X2= 6.683, p=.035), in the case of childrens have no past accidental experience, reasoning power( X2=8.384, p=.015), movement speed( X2=20.6, p=.000), behavioral character( X2 =25.1, p=.000) and synthetic judgement( X2 =10.79, p=.005), in the case of children's order is first, reasoning power( X2=11.15, p=.004), movement speed( X2=11.92, p= .003) and behavioral character( X2=7.003, p=.030), in the case of children's order is second, movement speed( X2=6.694, p= .035), behavioral character( X2=26.9, p= .000) and synthetic judgement( X2=14.3, p= .001), in the case of nuclear family, reasoning power( X2=8.777, p=.012), movement speed( X2=19.0, p=.000), behavioral character ( X2=26.4, p=0.000) and synthetic judgement ( X2=9.999, p=.007), in the case of mothers' school career is under high school graduate, life safety( X2=8.023, p=.018), movement speed( X2=10.99, p=.004) and behavioral character( X2=6.777, p=.034), in the case of mothers' school career is beyond college graduate, reasoning power( X2=6.717, p= .035), movement speed( X2=8.963, p=.011), behavioral character( X2=25.03, p=.000) and synthetic judgement( X2=15.19, p=.001), in the case of mothers' age ranged 31-34, movement speed( X2=12.29, p=.002) and behavioral character( X2=14.17, p=.001), in the case of mothers' age ranged 35-39, movement speed( X2=9.859, p=.007), behavioral character( X2=9.095, p=.011) and synthetic judgement( X2=7.810, p=.020), in the case of mothers' age is over 40, life safety( X2 =5.593, p=.025), in the case of mothers' job is full-time, traffic safety( X2=6.032, p=.049) and reasoning power( X2=8.502, p= .014), in the case of mothers' job is part- time., movement speed( X2=10.99, p=.004) and behavioral character( X2=7.895, p= .019), in the case of mothers have no job, movement speed( X2=6.410, p=.041), movement stability( X2=6.879, p=.032), behavioral character( X2=27.72, p=.000) and synthetic judgement( X2=18.11, p=.000). The difference of accident proneness between experimental group and control group according to general characterists, it also showed that there were significant difference in behaviorl character compared to other area.. From this findings, we can guess that safety education program change and guide preschoolers' behavioral character to desirable direction.

Perspectivas para uma análise interdisciplinar e participativa de acidentes (AIPA) no contexto da indústria de proceso

El objetivo principal de este capítulo es presentar las propuestas conceptuales y metodología sobre el análisis de los accidentes industriales y sus causas, con énfasis en industrias de procesos químicos partiendo de una propuesta que interrelaciona las ciencias sociales y la actualidad con un enfoque epidemiológico en el cual un accidente es tratado como un fenómeno colectivo y de salud pública

The Effect of Safety Education on Accident Proneness Prospect in Preschooler / 아동간호학회지

The purpose of this study was to provide basic data on preschool children for accident prevention and improve their health through sound, safe living enviornment with safety education estabilished through more systematic method. Data were collected from 300 preschoolers(150 preschooler are assigned to experimental group and 150 preschoolers are assinged to control group) from 4 to 6 years old using APP paper test which consists of questions and drawings. To experimental group, safety education were done 4 times within the time of 30 minutes per 1 time using education books, video, OHP, slide. The findings of this study are as follows: 1.There were significant difference in behavioral character between experimental group and control group( chi 2=11.690, p= 0.003). So, safety education have effect on the behavioral character of preschooler. 2. In the accident proneness on preschooler between experimental group and control group according to general characteristics, it proved significant difference in the case of accident prevention education were done, movement stability( chi 2=8.844, p=0.012) and behavioral character( chi 2=6.699, p=0.035), in the case of housing pattern is mixed-type, behavioral character( chi 2=10.37, p=0.006), in the case of subjects' age is 4 years old, watchfulness( chi 2=9.525, p=0.009), in the case of subjects' age is 5 years old, behavioral character( chi 2=7.324, p=0.026), in the case of children's order is second, behavioral character( chi 2=14.31, p=0.001), in the case of children's sex is boy, living safety( chi 2=7.981, p=0.018), movement speed ( chi 2=6.661, p=0.036), bihavioral character( chi 2=8.837, p=0.012), in the case of children's sex is girl, reasoning power( chi 2 =9.78, p=0.008), in the case of childrens have no past accidental experience, behavioral character( chi 2=9.862, p=0.007), in the case of nuclear family, movement speed( chi 2=6.341, p=0.042) and behavioral character( chi 2=9.326, p=0.009), in the case of mothers' age is under thirty behavioral character( chi 2=16.40, p=0.000), in the case of mothers' school career is under high school graduate, behavioral character( chi 2 =8.375, p=0.015), in the case of mothers' school career is beyond college graduate, reasoning power( chi 2=9.803, p=0.007) and behavioral character( chi 2=6.205, p=0.045), in the case of mothers' job is part time, movement speed( chi 2=10.99, p=0.004), in the case of mothers have no job, movement stability( chi 2=8.490, p=0.014) and behavioral character( chi 2=10.11, p=0.006). The difference of accident proneness between experimental group and control group according to general characterists, it also showed that there were significant difference in behaviorl character compared to other area.. From this findings, we can guess that safety education change and guide preschoolers' behavioral character to desirable direction.

Fraturas transtrocanterianas e do colo do fêmur no idoso: estudo epidemiológico / Transtrochanteric fractures and femur neck in aged: epidemiologic study

As fraturas transtrocanterianas e do colo do fêmur são comuns no idoso, acometendo mais freqüentemente o sexo feminino. Devem ser consederadas como urgência ortopêdica, objetivando a imediata recuperação funcional e evitando as complicações. A profilaxia, através do controle da perda da massa óssea e da criação de condições domiciliares diminuindo as possibilidades de quedas, é um importante fator para que a ocorrência destas fraturas diminua

Accident Proneness Prospect in Preschooler / 간호학회지

The purpose of this study was to provide basic data on preschool children of accident prevention and to improve their health through a sound, safe living environment with safety education established through more systematic methods. Data were collected from 516 preschoolers from 4 to 6 years old using APP paper test which consists of a question and drawing. The children's general characteristics and accident proneness prospect were investigated. The relationship between the children's general characteristics and the accident proneness prospect were analyzed. The findings of the study are as follows: 1. The institution which children attended had a significant difference in accordance with the living safety(p=.015) and behavior character(p=.033). 2. The housing pattern in which children lived had a significant difference in accordance with the movement speed(p=.027). 3. The children's age had a significant difference in accordance with the living safety(p=.002), traffic safety(p=.001), the reasoning power(p=.000), movement speed(p=.00), movement stability(p=.000) and attentional power (p=.000). 4. The children's sex had a significant difference in accordance with the movement stability and behavioral character(p=.003, p=.008). 5. The children's past accidental experience had a significant difference in accordance with the behavior character(p=.001). 6. General assessment of the APP test had a significant difference in accordance with the children's age(p=.000) and children's past accidental experience(p=.020).

Mortalidad por accidentes de tránsito en Chile, 1994: una aproximación epidemiológica / Mortality due to traffic accidents in Chile during 1994: an epidemiological approach

Traffic accidents are one of the most important public health problems in the world and produce social, work and human resources losses. Data were obtained from death certificates in which the cause of death was a traffic acciden. All death certificates obtained by the National Institute of Statistics during 1994 were used. Social, demographic and seasonal variable were recorded. During 1994 there were 1679 deaths due to traffic accidents (81 percent male), with a rate of 19.6 per 100,000 inhabitants. Gender specific risks were 19.62 and 4.48 for men and women, respectively. Mean age at the moment of death was 39 years old. Fifty three percent of deceased people were single, 42 percent married and 5 percent widowers. Ten percent had not formal education, 48 percent had basic education, 23 percent college education and 6.5 percent university education. Seventy seven percent of fatalities ocurred in urban areas. The risk of death of traffic accidents was 7.02 per 100,000 inhabitants in the metropolitan region. The information obtained in the present study may help to generate preventive strategies to control deaths caused by traffic accidents