Epidemiology of Road Traffic Injuries in Iran: Based on the Data from Disaster Management Information System (DMIS) Of the Iranian Red Crescent

Abstract

Background: Road traffic injuries (RTIs) are the leading cause of injuries and the second cause of mortality in Iran. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiological pattern of RTIs in Iran based on the data from disaster management information system (DMIS) of the Iranian Red Crescent. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the pattern of RTIs in Iran was studied based on the data from DMIS in the period from 20 March 2012 to 19 February 2016 (35 months). All of the 78775 RTIs recorded were selected through census. Data analysis was done using the SPSS. 16 software package. P value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Among the 19 types of accidents whose data are recorded, road traffic accidents with a 78775 number of occurrence (136.1 +/- 86.5 per 100000 people), 186860 injuries (332.1 +/- 220 per 100000 people) and 12596 deaths (22.6 +/- 11.1 per 100000 people) were the highest in ranking. The most common annunciator of the accidents was the emergency. Receiving the first report of the rescue operation was most done by telephone. The mean number of the operational forces involved in RTIs per 100000 people was 529.2 +/- 407. The results showed that there was a significant difference between high, moderate and low population rate provinces in the mean number of injuries cases, the mortality of RTIs and the total number of Red Crescent operational forces (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Considering the high occurrence of the mortality and the injuries of the RTIs compared to that of the other types of accidents, more attention to RTIs in planning and interventions seems necessary.