Analysis of factors Associated with Injuries and Deaths from Road Accidents in Health Region 4, 2023-2024

Abstract

Background: Injuries and fatalities from roads are a major public health problem that affects the health service system, especially in Health Region 4, which covers several provinces in the central region with heavy traffic. This study leads to effective policy planning and management.
Objective: To study the factors associated with injuries and deaths from road accidents in Health Region 4 during 2023-2024.
Materials and Methods: This retrospective descriptive study used secondary data from the medical record system of hospitals in Health Region 4 during 2023-2024 and was analyzed using binary logistic regression statistics.
Results: Most fatalities were male, aged < 20 years, and outpatients. The cause of the fatality was the motorcycle driver. The injuries and deaths were caused by not wearing a helmet, and the accident time was 4:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. The analysis found that males were 1.54 more likely to die than females (AOR: 1.54, 95%CI=1.42-1.81). Those aged over 60 were 2.06 more likely to die than those aged under 20 (AOR: 2.06, 95% CI=1.89 -2.03). Inpatients were 1.13 more likely than outpatients (AOR: 1.13, 95%CI=1.10-1.53). Motorcycles were 1.26 more likely than other types of vehicles (AOR: 1.26, 95% CI= 1.21-1.32). The cause of death was not wearing a helmet or fastening a seatbelt. The chance of death is 1.62 times higher among those who wear a helmet/seat belt (AOR: 1.62, 95% CI= 1.52-1.73). Drinking alcohol has a chance of death 2.26 than those who do not drink alcohol (AOR: 2.26, 95% CI= 2.18 -2.43). And the period 16.01-18.00 has a chance of death 1.09 of other periods (AOR: 1.09, 95% CI= .41-1.52). The factors that were not related to injury and death were the nature of the accident and driving. When analyzed with the ROC Curve, it was found that the area under the graph was more than 0.750, which indicates good sensitivity in prediction.
Conclusion: Factors related to injuries and deaths from road accidents in Health Region 4 include gender, age, type of service recipient, type of vehicle, safety equipment, alcohol consumption, and time period. The ROC Curve value is greater than 0.750. This analysis can be used as an effective guideline and preventative measure for hospitals in Health Region 4.