title: Burden, pattern and outcomes of road traffic injuries in a rural district of India.
abstract: Road traffic injuries (RTIs) are a leading public health problem and the understanding of RTIs in rural India is limited. The present report documents the burden, pattern, characteristics and outcomes of RTIs in a rural district of India using combined data sources: police and hospital. RTIs contributed for 38% of fatal and 39% of non-fatal injuries with an annual mortality rate of 18.1/100,000 population/year. Young males were affected most and two-wheeler users and pedestrians were involved in 45% and 20% of fatal crashes, respectively. Nearly half (51%) of fatal RTIs occurred on national highways of the district; 46% died immediately at the site. Among those hospitalised, 20% were under the influence of alcohol while use of helmets and seat belts was <5%. Trauma care was deficient in the district leading to greater number of referrals. Road safety should be given high importance in rural India with a focus on safe roads, safe vehicles and safe people along with trauma care.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Epidemiology, WHO Collaborating Centre for Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion, Centre for Public Health , National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences , Bangalore 560029 , India.
authors.forename: Gopalkrishna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gururaj
authors.affiliation: b Department of Community Medicine , Sree Siddhartha Medical College and Research Centre , B.H. Road, Agalkote, Tumkur 527107 , India.
authors.forename: Pallavi Sarji
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Uthkarsh
authors.affiliation: c Department of Epidemiology, Centre for Public Health , National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences , Bangalore 560029 , India.
authors.forename: Girish N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.affiliation: b Department of Community Medicine , Sree Siddhartha Medical College and Research Centre , B.H. Road, Agalkote, Tumkur 527107 , India.
authors.forename: Ashok N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Jayaram
authors.affiliation: b Department of Community Medicine , Sree Siddhartha Medical College and Research Centre , B.H. Road, Agalkote, Tumkur 527107 , India.
authors.forename: Venkatesh
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Panduranganath
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000401:mortality*
keywords: risk factors; road traffic injuries; rural India; trauma care; vulnerable road users