Incidence and Pattern of Road Traffic Accidents in Emergency Department of Selected Hospitals.

BACKGROUND

Road traffic accidents (RTAs) are a major public health concern globally, resulting in significant morbidity, mortality, and economic costs. Despite extensive preventive measures, the incidence and impact of RTAs continue to escalate, especially in emergency departments where the acute outcomes are most visible.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to determine the incidence and pattern of RTAs in the emergency departments of selected hospitals and to identify associations with demographic variables.

METHODS

A non-experimental observational survey research design was employed, using non-probability purposive sampling to collect data from the emergency departments of four hospitals.

RESULTS

The study involved 525 participants, with the majority of RTA victims being males (53.5%) and within the 18-35 year age group (46.7%). Significant associations were found between RTA incidence and all studied demographic factors (p < 0.05), including age, gender, education, occupation, living area, and lifestyle habits such as alcohol consumption and smoking. The study identified that 20.7% of emergency department patients were admitted due to RTAs during the study period.

CONCLUSION

RTAs remain a significant challenge in emergency care, with certain demographic groups, particularly young adult males and individuals with risky lifestyle habits, being more vulnerable. The findings underscore the need for targeted interventions that address these high-risk groups and highlight the importance of continuous surveillance of RTA patterns to inform preventive strategies.