title: Trends in fatal motorcycle injuries in the Americas, 1998-2010.
abstract: Injuries, disabilities and deaths among motorcyclists have been rising worldwide but what is happening in the American Continent is not completely known. Deaths from motorcycle crashes of the Pan American Health Organization database (PAHO/WHO, 1998-2010) were included in an ecologic multi-national study to quantify the temporal trends and to estimate the association between motorcycle riders' deaths and selected socio-economic indicators. Mortality rates increased in all sub-regions. The highest increase was reported in the countries of the Andean sub-region (Ecuador, 78.3%) and Mesoamerica (Costa Rica, 60.0%). Poorer countries fared worse in terms of motorcycle mortality relative to richer countries, as did more unequal ones. Recent economic changes, rapid increment of motorisation rates, affordability of motorcycles over public transportation, lack of adequate public transportation policies and other insufficient measures aimed at improving safety can explain these trends.
authors.affiliation: a Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization , Washington , DC.
authors.forename: Eugênia M S
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: Andrés
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Villaveces
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sanhueza
authors.forename: José A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Escamilla-Cejudo
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000401:mortality* / Q000639:trends*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000569:Americas / Q000453:epidemiology; D019049:Developed Countries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003906:Developing Countries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009049:Motorcycles / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012737:Sex Factors; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000401:mortality*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Americas; mortality; motorcycles; surveillance; trends