Epidemiological Characteristics of Road Accident Mortality and Identification of Hot Spots: Years of Life Lost in Fars Province, Iran

Mostafa   Eghbalian; Fateme  Vaziri; Habibeh  Nasab; Mahnaz  Yadollahi; Forough  Pazhuheian; Mojtaba  Norouzi

doi:10.18502/ijph.v54i7.19159

Mostafa Eghbalian Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Faculty of Public Health, Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, Gonabad, Iran
Fateme Vaziri Environmental Science and Technology Research Center, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
Habibeh Nasab Trauma Research Center, Shahid Rajaee (Emtiaz) Trauma Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Mahnaz Yadollahi Endocrinology & Metabolism Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Forough Pazhuheian Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
Mojtaba Norouzi Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijph.v54i7.19159

Keywords: Accidents; Traffic; Mortality; Disability-adjusted life years; Iran

Abstract

Background: We aimed to analyze the epidemiological characteristics of road accident mortality and identify high-risk areas, considering the years of life lost (YLL) in Fars Province, central Iran.

Methods: The present study was conducted cross-sectionally in 2019. We used Kernel Density and hot spot analysis to identify statistically significant clusters of road accidents. For the descriptive analysis, we utilized the chi-square test, considering a P-value of less than 0.05 as statistically significant. To calculate years of life lost, R 4.3.3 software and the “YLL” package were used.

Results: A total of 1,604 people died in road accidents, with the majority being male (1,304). The mean age of the subjects was 37.63+36.61 years. The axes with a greater concentration of accidents included Shiraz-Marvdasht-Abade towards Esfahan, Shiraz-Kazeroun towards Bushehr, and Kazeroun- Noorabad towards Yasouj. Head injury and multiple fractures were the most prevalent causes of death among both sexes. The number of deaths and YLL due to accidents was higher in men than in women, in all age groups. In men, the number of deaths and YLL were more between the ages of 15 and 34 years, while in women, the distribution of the number of deaths and YLL did not differ much until the age of 70 years.

Conclusion: There is significant accident hotspots along the Shiraz-Marvdasht-Abade towards Esfahan, Shiraz-Kazeroun towards Bushehr, and Kazeroun-Noorabad towards Yasouj routes. In addition, the highest number of YLL due to road accidents occurred among teenagers and young adults. Policymakers need to focus on targeted interventions in these high-risk areas and develop strategies aimed at reducing accidents, particularly among younger males, to enhance road safety and decrease mortality rates.