A Survey of Non-Fatal Road Traffic Accidents in Babol, Northern Iran

Background: Every year, millions of people die or are injured due to road traffic accidents worldwide. Investigating the epidemiology of these accidents could help reduce their frequency. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the epidemiological characteristics of non-fatal traffic accidents in Babol, northern Iran, over a seven-year period. Methods: Between 2010 and 2016, all of the orthopedic patients with road traffic accidents hospitalized at Shahid Beheshti hospital of Babol were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. The patients’ information, including details of the accidents and demographic characteristics, was collected using predesigned checklists. Results: The majority of 3649 subjects (2748, 75.3%) were male. The age range was from 1 to 86 years old, with an average of 30.5±15.4 years. Traffic accidents were mostly seen in the age group of 19 - 40 years (58.7%) and in those who were drivers (52.7%). The accidents were highest in 2016 (19.9%), and on interurban roads (32.9%), on sunny days (73.4%), asphalt roads (74.3%), and in the morning (42.8%). November (12.7%) was associated with the highest monthly rate, followed by August (11.9%) and March (11.2%). Fractures were observed mostly in the leg (n = 960), followed by the forearm (n = 773). Conclusions: The results showed that road traffic accidents have increased in recent years. It is recommended to improve the traffic safety with the improvement of the geometric design of the roads, especially in roads with a high probability of accident risk.