Title: Injury Patterns & Determinants of Road Accidents in Rural Wardha
Abstract: Introduction: WHO’s report on road traffic accidents (2009) revealed 50% of deaths occur in vulnerable road users with higher rates in poorer economies of the world. Administrative records of Wardha district show the total number of road traffic accidents reported in the year 2011 were 601 including 165 fatalities and by 2012 midyear 441cases including 116 fatalities. There is possibility of gross underreporting of road traffic accidents. Complexity of epidemiology of accidents as well as patterns of injuries suffered makes it an essential study determinant. Objective: To find out the severity & pattern of injuries sustained in RTA’s . Material and Methods: Community based Cross sectional study was done in the villages of Wardha district (India). Sample size of 385 was estimated by Probability Proportional to Size sampling {PPS}. Variables like Pattern of injuries as fatal, non-fatal outcomes, type of injury sustained and sites of injury were enquired. Result: Abrasions were more at almost all times in the entire day with maximum during afternoon 50(45.0%), 20.7 % showed alcohol influence, 36.8 % suffered injuries to upper limb. Conclusion: Alcohol, over speeding is more dangerous on city roads, abrasions and lacerations were common injuries, fractures and crush injuries were less common. 20.7 % chances of Accidents under influence of Alcohol, most of them had motor driving license. Majority of accidents were non-fatal. Fractures were more common in motorized 4 wheeler occupants. Stones, animals on roads and defect on roads also played major role in accidents. Lack of visibility on the road had significantly increased the risk of fatal injuries.