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9099
ISSN 2286-4822
www.euacademic.org
EUROPEAN ACADEMIC RESEARCH
Vol. II, Issue 7/ October 2014
Impact Factor: 3.1 (UIF)
DRJI Value: 5.9 (B+)
Epidemiological Profile of Road Traffic Accidents
on Khartoum – Medani Highway, Sudan
MOHAMMED A. ELAWAD
University of Khartoum, Sudan
AHMED E. ELMARDI
University of Khartoum, Sudan
LIGA H. M. SALIM
Alzaiem Alazhari University, Sudan
Abstract:
A descriptive study of road traffic accidents on Khartoum –
Medani highway, Sudan was conducted to investigate epidemiological
profile of the problem throughout a year. Relevant records and
monthly reports of Traffic General Administration were reviewed. A
total of 231 accidents occurred, which resulted in death of 91
individuals and some injuries. The study revealed that, about
72(31.2%) of accidents led to injuries while 61(26.4%) led to death and
injuries. The majority of victims were males of working age (25 – 44).
The main causes behind these accidents were incorrect passing of
vehicle (32.3%), incorrect crossing of pedestrian (30.8%), high speed
(22.6%) and driving under influence of alcohol (7.5%). Most of
accidents occurred in November 29(12.55%) and on Thursday
30(22.6%). The study concluded that, road traffic accidents on
Khartoum – Medani still occurred in high proportion and it is a major
death-leading cause.
Key words: Epidemiological, Road, Traffic, Accidents, Highway,
Sudan
Mohammed A. Elawad, Ahmed E. Elmardi, Liga H. M. Salim- Epidemiological
Profile of Road Traffic Accidents on Khartoum – Medani Highway, Sudan
EUROPEAN ACADEMIC RESEARCH - Vol. II, Issue 7 / October 2014
9100
Introduction
Road traffic accidents are considered as public health problem
world-wide. Each year, nearly 1.3 million people die as a result
of a road traffic collision— more than 3500 deaths each day,
moreover twenty to fifty million more people sustain non-fatal
injuries from a collision, and these injuries are an important
cause of disability worldwide (Ashish and Devang, 2011).
Recent studies have shown an increase in the rate of road
traffic accidents (RTA) in many developing and developed
countries. This is attributed in part to urbanization,
industrialization, as well as the increase in the number of
motor vehicles on the roads (Charles et al, 2007).
By 2020, road traffic accidents will move from being the
9th leading cause of disability-adjusted life years lost to the 3rd
leading cause in the world and will be 2nd leading cause in
developing countries ( Abhishek et al, 2011)). The problem is
increasing at a fast rate in developing countries due to rapid
motorization and other factors (Issam et al, 2012).
Fortunately, road traffic injuries can be prevented, and
their consequences can be alleviated. This achieved in many
countries by enforcement of traffic laws as regards to speed
limits, alcohol drink, use of seat-belts, advocacy ... etc (Khare et
al, 2012).
In Sudan, road traffic Accidents problem is one of the
major health concerns because of the high rate of population
growth, the large percentage of young drivers, large number of
vehicles, the absence of strict law enforcement and the poor
road conditions (Ahmed and Gasmelseed, 2014).
Materials and Methods
Study area
Khartoum – Medani highway is oldest and important one of
national highways in Sudan. It is established in 1963 to link
Mohammed A. Elawad, Ahmed E. Elmardi, Liga H. M. Salim- Epidemiological
Profile of Road Traffic Accidents on Khartoum – Medani Highway, Sudan
EUROPEAN ACADEMIC RESEARCH - Vol. II, Issue 7 / October 2014
9101
the Khartoum city, the capital of Sudan, with Medani town, the
capital of Aljazeera state. The length of the highway is about
186 km and its width is not more than 6.5 metre. It is used in
two directions without separation between them. A lot of
villages disperse on the sides of such highway, in addition to
intensive movement of animals and pedestrians crossing the
highway.
Data collection methods
The relevant data were collected by reviewing records and
monthly reports of Traffic General Administration throughout a
year.
Results
The findings illustrated that, about 231 accidents occurred on
Khartoum – Medani highway in a period of year. Of them,
72(31.2%) resulted in injuries and 61(26.4%) led to deaths and
injuries (table 1). In table 2, the highest percentage of death
(43.9%) occurred in age group of 25 - 44. The death was more
frequent among males (72.5%) than females (table 3). Incorrect
passing of vehicle is a major cause of accidents (32.3%) followed
by incorrect crossing of pedestrian (30.8%), high speed (22.6%)
and driving under influence of alcohol (7.5%) as shown in table
4. November and December witnessed high percentage of
accidents, 12.55%and 9.96% respectively (table 5), also high
percentage of such accidents occurred on Thursday (22.6%) in
table 6.
Table (1): Distribution of road traffic accidents on Khartoum –
Medani highway according to result of accident.
Accident
No
%
Accidents resulted in injuries
72
31.2
Accidents resulted in deaths and injuries
61
26.4
Accidents resulted in no death or injuries
98
42.4
Total
231
100
Mohammed A. Elawad, Ahmed E. Elmardi, Liga H. M. Salim- Epidemiological
Profile of Road Traffic Accidents on Khartoum – Medani Highway, Sudan
EUROPEAN ACADEMIC RESEARCH - Vol. II, Issue 7 / October 2014
9102
Table (2): Age distribution of people killed in road traffic accidents
on Khartoum – Medani highway.
Age group
No
%
<16
12
13.2
16 - 24
9
9.9
25 - 44
40
43.9
45 - 64
18
19.8
>64
4
4.4
Unidentified
8
8.8
Total
91
100
Table (3): Sex distribution of people killed in road traffic accidents on
Khartoum – Medani highway.
Sex
No
%
Male
66
72.5
Female
25
27.5
Total
91
100
Table (4): Causes of road traffic accidents resulted in injuries and/or
death on Khartoum – Medani highway.
Cause of accident
No
%
Incorrect passing of vehicle
43
32.3
Incorrect crossing of pedestrian
41
30.8
High speed
30
22.6
Driving under influence of alcohol
10
7.5
Explosion of tyre
6
4.5
Incorrect pick-up
3
2.3
Total
133
100
Table (5): Distribution of road traffic accidents resulted in injuries
and/or death on Khartoum – Medani highway according to result of
accident.
Month
No
%
January
13
5.63
February
10
4.33
March
12
5.19
April
22
9.52
May
16
6.93
June
24
10.39
July
19
8.23
August
23
9.96
September
19
8.22
October
21
9.09
November
29
12.55
December
23
9.96
Mohammed A. Elawad, Ahmed E. Elmardi, Liga H. M. Salim- Epidemiological
Profile of Road Traffic Accidents on Khartoum – Medani Highway, Sudan
EUROPEAN ACADEMIC RESEARCH - Vol. II, Issue 7 / October 2014
9103
Total
231
100
Table (6): Distribution of road traffic accidents resulted in injuries
and/or death on Khartoum – Medani highway according to the day of
accident.
Day of accident
No
%
Saturday
14
10.5
Sunday
14
10.5
Monday
21
15.8
Tuesday
19
14.3
Wednesday
20
15
Thursday
30
22.6
Friday
15
11.3
Total
133
100
Discussion
The findings illustrated that, a considerable number of accident
led to deaths and injuries. In this study, about 43.9% of killed
people in road traffic accidents were in age group (25 – 44
years) whom are reproductive age leading to enormous effect on
economic status of many families.
Most of victims (72.5%) were males compared with
females, it might attribute to that in Sudan males used motor
vehicles as riders or drivers more than females. Many studies
in different countries reported similar findings e.g. in Rural
Haryana that majority of the road traffic accidents victims
(79.47%) were in the age group of 15 to 50 years ( Abhishek et
al, 2011). Also in India, almost 75% of the victims were < 40
years, with the male to female ratio of 8.3:1 (Nirmalya et al,
2012). In Ghana, road traffic accidents are responsible for a far
higher rate of death among men, by an approximate ratio of 3:1
(Christian and John, 2014).
The present study found some causes behind the road
traffic accidents such as incorrect passing of vehicle, incorrect
crossing of pedestrians, high speed and driving under influence
of alcohol. Vimala and Lavanya (2013) found that Type of
Mohammed A. Elawad, Ahmed E. Elmardi, Liga H. M. Salim- Epidemiological
Profile of Road Traffic Accidents on Khartoum – Medani Highway, Sudan
EUROPEAN ACADEMIC RESEARCH - Vol. II, Issue 7 / October 2014
9104
vehicle and use of alcohol were associated with increased
occurrence of road traffic accidents. Also in Sudan, it has been
reported that over speeding remains the main cause of
accidents resulting in severe injuries with disabilities (Ahmed
and Gasmelseed, 2014).
The high percentage of road traffic accidents were
recorded in November and December, the months witness
heavy movement on the highway as well as on Thursday which
is weekend in Sudan and most of people return back from
Khartoum to their relatives and homes in the nearest towns
and villages.
Conclusion
Road traffic accidents represent a major public health problem
on Khartoum – Medani highway. The majority of victims were
males and working age group. Weekends witnessed highest
proportion of road traffic accidents.
Acknowledgement
The authors are grateful to Traffic General Administration in
Khartoum and Aljazeera states for their assistance and
cooperation.
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