Risk Factors for Road Traffic Injuries among Different Road Users in the Gambia

Edrisa Sanyang; Corinne Peek-Asa; Paul Bass; Tracy L Young; Babanding Daffeh; Laurence J Fuortes

doi:10.1155/2017/8612953

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Risk Factors for Road Traffic Injuries among Different Road Users in the Gambia

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Risk Factors for Road Traffic Injuries among Different Road Users in the Gambia

Edrisa Sanyang, Corinne Peek-Asa, Paul Bass, Tracy L Young, Babanding Daffeh and Laurence J Fuortes

Journal of environmental and public health, Vol.2017, pp.8612953-9

2017

DOI: 10.1155/2017/8612953

PMCID: PMC5420414

PMID: 28512475

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https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/8612953View

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Abstract

We identified risk factors for road traffic injuries among road users who received treatment at two major trauma hospitals in urban Gambia. The study includes pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists, and drivers/passengers of cars and trucks. We examined distributions of injury by age, gender, collision vehicle types and vehicle category, and driver and environment factors. Two hundred and fifty-four patients were included in the study. Two-thirds were male and one-third female. Two-thirds (67%) of road traffic injuries involved pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists; and these were more common during weekdays (74%) than weekends. Nearly half (47%) of road traffic injuries involved pedestrians. One-third (34%) of injured patients were students (mean age of students was less than 14 years), more than half (51%) of whom were injured on the roadway as pedestrians. Head/skull injuries were common. Concussion/brain injuries were 3.5 times higher among pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists than vehicle occupants. Crashes involving pedestrians were more likely to involve young people (<25 years; aOR 6.36, 95% CI: 3.32-12.17) and involve being struck by a motor car (aOR 3.95, 95% CI: 2.09-7.47). Pedestrians contribute the largest proportion of hospitalizations in the Gambia. Young pedestrians are at particularly high risk. Prevention efforts should focus on not only vehicle and driver factors, but also protecting pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists.

Gambia - epidemiology

Humans

Risk Factors

Wounds and Injuries - etiology

Hospitalization - statistics & numerical data

Male

Wounds and Injuries - epidemiology

Young Adult

Accidents, Traffic - classification

Accidents, Traffic - statistics & numerical data

Adolescent

Adult

Female

Details

Title: Subtitle: Risk Factors for Road Traffic Injuries among Different Road Users in the Gambia
Creators: Edrisa Sanyang - Injury Prevention and Research Center, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
Corinne Peek-Asa - Injury Prevention and Research Center, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
Paul Bass - Department of Public & Environmental Health, School of Medicine & Allied Health Sciences, University of the Gambia, Brikama, Gambia
Tracy L Young - Injury Prevention and Research Center, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
Babanding Daffeh - Emergency Department, Serrekunda General Hospital, Kanifing, Gambia
Laurence J Fuortes - Center for International Rural & Environmental Health, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of environmental and public health, Vol.2017, pp.8612953-9
DOI: 10.1155/2017/8612953
PMID: 28512475
PMCID: PMC5420414
NLM abbreviation: J Environ Public Health
ISSN: 1687-9805
eISSN: 1687-9813
Publisher: United States
Grant note: T42 OH008491 / NIOSH CDC HHS
Language: English
Date published: 2017
Academic Unit: Public Health Administration; Occupational and Environmental Health; Epidemiology; Nursing; Public Policy Center (Archive); Internal Medicine
Record Identifier: 9983997365502771

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