142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

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Severity of injury among motorcyclists in Hyderabad city, India: Findings from hospital injury surveillance

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Wednesday, November 19, 2014 : 9:30 AM - 9:45 AM

Shirin Wadhwaniya , Johns Hopkins International Injury Research Unit, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
Shivam Gupta , Johns Hopkins International Injury Research Unit, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
Amber Mehmood , Johns Hopkins International Injury Research Unit, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
Shailaja Tetali , Indian Institute of Public Health, Hyderabad, Hyderabad, India
Audio (mp3) recording Recorded Presentation (mp4)
Background: India has a huge burden of road traffic injuries (RTIs) and motorcycles are a popular mode of transportation.   

Methods: Prospective hospital injury surveillance was established in Gandhi Hospital, one of the largest public hospitals in Hyderabad city, India. Data on all consenting patients who presented to the casualty department following RTI was collected using a structured tool. Data for the first 3 months (August–October 2013) of surveillance was analyzed to describe epidemiology and risk factors of RTI.   

Results: Between August-October 2013, 1945 cases of RTIs were recorded. Nearly 88% (n=1711) of victims were men and 73.3% (n=1425) were between the ages of 15 – 44 years. Motorcyclists (driver or pillion rider) accounted for 73% (n=1125) of all cases. Head injury was recorded in 34.6% (n=673) and motorcyclists constituted 74.3% (n=385) of cases with head injury. For all cases, mean Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) was 13.3 and mean Revised Trauma Score (RTS) was 7.4. About 11.7% (n=227) had GCS<9 and 17.9% (n=348) had RTS <7, both indicating severe injuries. Motorcyclists constituted 76.3% (n=116) of cases with GCS<9 and 78% (n=188) of cases with RTS <7. Of the 21 fatalities that were recorded in the casualty department, 13 (61.9%) were among motorcyclists. Further, only 4.4% (n=50) of motorcyclists were wearing helmet at the time of RTI. 

Conclusion: Findings highlight vulnerability of motorcyclists. Helmet use can reduce this risk. Enforcement of helmet law in India is weak. Enhanced enforcement and increased awareness may reduce the burden of RTI among motorcyclists in India.

Learning Areas:

Epidemiology

Learning Objectives:
Describe epidemiology and risk factors of road traffic injuries

Keyword(s): Motor Vehicles, Surveillance

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been involved as principle or co-investigator in various international research projects focusing on Road traffic injury surveillance, road safety as well as trauma and emergency care. Among my scientific interests have been the outcome of injuries according to the injury severity scoring methodology and development and implementation of hospital based injury surveillance system including trauma registries.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 5059.0: Global injury and injury prevention