Risk factors for road traffic injuries on Qazvin-Loshan road, 2005

ABSTRACT

Considering the lack of adequate basic information on risk factors for road traffic injuries in Iran, a study was conducted to determine the association between potential risk factors and the incidence of injuries in motor vehicle drivers. We performed a population-based case-control study on Qazvin-Loshan road. Risk factors related to injury incidence were compared between 175 cases and 175 controls. Cases were drivers recently injured in road accidents. Controls did not have any injury and were selected systematically while the study was being conducted. Injury was defined as trauma needing medical or surgical treatment. Information was obtained through police reports and interviews with cases and controls. Data were analyzed by two methods; bivariate analysis [crude] and by a multivariate unconditional logistic regression model. In bivariate analysis, risk factors for road traffic injuries risk were failure to wear seat belts or protective helmets, ejection from vehicle, severity of collision, number of crashes, motorcycle vs. other motor vehicle accidents, fire, rain and fog, and collision with fixed objects. In the logistic model, factors such as seat belt or helmet use with OR- 0.619 [0.376-1.018], ejection from the vehicle with OR= 2.952 [1.235-7.056], severe collision with OR= 5.413 [2.865-10.224], motorcycle vs. other motor vehicle accident with OR= 3.164 [1.05-9.537] and raining and fog vs. good weather with OR- 4.562 [1.663-12.514] were found to influence injury incidence. There was an interaction between severity of collision and weather status. Better speed control, use of seat belts or helmets, not using motorcycles for road travel and equipping vehicles with fire extinguishing capsules are recommended to reduce road accident injuries