A Community-based Epidemiological Study on non-fatal Road Traffic Accidents in Puducherry, South India

Abstract

Introduction: Road traffic accidents are the sixth leading cause of death in India with a greater share of hospitalization, disabilities, deaths and socio-economic losses. Objective: To identify the pattern of non-fatal road traffic accidents, socio-demographic profile of accident victims and antecedent factors influencing these road traffic injuries. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted for six months in Puducherry. From existing 27 wards of Lawspet, six wards were selected by simple random sampling technique and all the households in selected wards were included. The minimum required sample size was estimated to be 165 by considering prevalence of non-fatal road traffic accidents in Puducherry as 5.6%. Face-to-face interview with a semi-structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Data entry and analysis were performed using Epi-data manager 4.2.0. Results: Total 169 accident victims were included in the study from the households of selected wards. Mean age of the accident victims was found to be 36.2 (11.4) years. Two‑wheeler accidents accounted for 144 (85.2%) and 123 (72.7%) accident victims were drivers at the time of accident. Majority (95.1 %) of the victims did not wear helmet while driving two-wheelers and none of the four-wheel drivers/pillions wore seat belts. Majority of the accidents occurred on usual tar roads 116 (68.6%) and 42 (24.9%) on highways. 102 (60.4%) accidents occurred in bi-directional roads.Conclusion: Simple or minor injuries were high compared to serious injuries requiring hospitalization. Majority of the accidents occurred during Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. The accidents exhibited a bimodal distribution with day and night time.