[Risk factors on road traffic accidents in middle school students: a matched case-control study].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the predictors of road traffic accidents (RTAs) in middle school students, a case-control study was designed to seek new clues for prevention and control on RTAs in this population.


METHODS
Cases were 116 students who experienced RTAs from 2005/01/01 to 2005/12/31. 116 students were served as controls who were from the same class of the cases and matched by age and sex. Information on personal behavior, family conditions, and knowledge, attitude, practice (KAB) on road traffic of these children were collected and compared. Conditional logistic regressions were conducted to analyze the relationship between these factors and RTAs.


RESULTS
Compared to the controls, the cases showed more negative attitude and risk-taking-behaviors especially in riding bicycle. However, knowledge on road safety showed less significant differences between case and control groups. The negative attitude and risk-taking-behaviors were independent risk factors for RTAs by logistic regression. In addition, distance from home to school that longer than 1000 m seemed a risk factors for RTAs, while high education levels among mothers was a protective factor.


CONCLUSIONS
Road safety attitude and behavior, distance from home to school were the main influence factors for RTAs among middle school students. It seemed more important in improving the attitude and behavior on road safety than to enhance the knowledge for prevention and control of RTAs among middle school students.
Li
Ying-chun
YC
School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China.
Jin
Hui-qing
HQ
Tao
Xing-yong
XY
Zhang
Shu-lin
SL
Hu
Chuan-lai
CL
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*