Epidemiology of Road Traffic Accidents in Western Uttar Pradesh, India: A Hospital Based Study

Objective: i. To study the socio-demographic profile of patients of Road traffic accidents (RTAs) with head injury, ii. To assess the variation in Road traffic accidents (RTAs) with head injury with month of year, day of week and time.
Study Design: A hospital based cross-sectional study.
Setting: Casualty and neurosurgery ward, JNMCH, AMU, Aligarh.
Study Unit: All patients of RTAs with head injury in age-group 15-45 years who have registered themselves in casualty.
Sampling Design: Purposive sampling.
Study Period: One year from August 2010 to July 2011.
Statistical Analysis: Data analysed with SPSS 17.0
Results: Maximum number of patients belonged to 15-24 years of age-group. Majority of patients were males (81.2%) and only few were females (18.8%). Higher number of patients belonged to rural areas (59.8%). Majority of the patients were literate. 30.2% of the patients were unemployed. Maximum risk of RTA was found in upper-lower class (55.1%) i.e. class IV. Maximum cases of RTAs occurred in July, August and September which corresponds to rainy season. Highest number of accidents occurred on Friday. Accidents were equally distributed over other days with no statistical difference with regard to day of week. No significant variability was observed between weekdays and weekends. Most accidents occurred either between 4.00 -7.59 p.m. or between 8.00-11.59 p.m. and a continuous rise in number of accidents with time of day was noticed starting from morning and progressing upto night with peaking at 4.00-7.59 p.m.
Conclusion: Young males are at increased risk of RTAs. Increase in level of education provides no immunity to accidents. There is considerable increase in RTAs leading to head injury during rainy season. No significant day to day variation noticed. A definite rise in RTAs with time is seen and needs further research.