Epidemiological study of motorcycle accidents in Gonabad in ۲۰۱۸-۲۰۱۹

Introduction: Motorcycle accidents are among the deadliest road traffic accidents, and the prevention of road traffic injury is a daunting challenge in numerous countries, including Iran. The present study aimed to investigate the motorcycle accidents that occurred in Gonabad, Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted using all standard pre-hospital emergency reporting forms related to motorcycle accidents registered in a software-based pre-hospital information management system (called ASAYAR in Persian) between March ۲۰۱۸ and ۲۰۱۹. The motorcycle accidents were assessed in terms of urban and rural settings, time and mission results of accidents, and demographic characteristics of injured people. Descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, frequency, and frequency percentage) were used for data analysis. Results: A total of ۱,۵۵۵ traffic accidents were recorded in the ASAYAR system, out of which ۷۴۶(۴۸%) accidents were related to motorcycle accidents, and out of ۷۴۶ cases in the county, ۴۳۱ cases had occurred in Gonabad. The majority of motorcycle accidents (۴۹%) took place in the age group of ۱۵-۲۵ years. The time analysis of accidents demonstrated that the majority of accidents had happened in the spring with ۳۴% (n=۱۴۷) and in June with ۱۱.۸۶% (n=۵۱). Moreover, ۷۷% of the injured were motorcycle riders, and ۸۲% of all the injured have been taken to hospital. Conclusion: As evidenced by the obtained results, nearly half of all road accidents are caused by motorcycles. Given that most of the injured in motorcycle accidents are adolescents and young people, it is necessary to take practical measures to control and manage this major health threat.

Keywords:

Motorcycles , Accidents , Epidemiology