Characteristics of the inner city road traffic casualties in Kerman during 1994

Road traffic casualties ( RTC) present a major health problem in Iran with a significant number of death and injuries among drivers, passengers and pedestrians of all ages. The purpose of this study was to achieve an understanding and knowledge about the pattern of the accident,s casualties in the city of Kerman. During one year period ( 1994-1995) all in- patient and out- patient cases referred to the emergency department of Shahid Bahonar hospital ( the only surgical emergency department in the city of Kerman) were evaluated. RTC accounted for 11.9℅ of all casualties. Out of 2304 victims, 56℅ were under 25 years, 24℅ were under 15 years, and 52℅ between 15 and 35 years old. None of those involved in accidents were wearing seat belt or other safety devices at the time of the accident, which they should have used according to the law. Over half of the children injured were pedestrians. The annual overall incidence rate of city RTC was 7.4(95℅ confidence interval ( CI) 7.1,7.2) per 1000 person. The annual incidence of RTC in men (11.9/1000:95℅  CI 11.3,12.4) was significantly higher than the rate in women (2.7/1000: 95℅ CI 2.4,2.9) the ratio of male to female was 4.6. Car drivers , car passengers, pedestrians. Motorcyclists and bicyclists were the most common victims respectively. Most of the bicycle accidents involved children. There was an increased risk of injury for young car drivers and motorcyclists. Car and motorcycle were dominated among injury inducing vehicles. Soft tissue injuries and fractures were most common. Other studies have shown that the introduction of seat belt legislation and stricter law enforcement should lead to a rapid reduction in mortality and morbidity on the road accidents. A need exists for the surveillance of injuries by the public health services as a basis of injury control.