oa A Five-Year Time Trend Analysis of Road Traffic Injuries [Rtis] and Deaths among Infants and Toddlers in Qatar

Background

Road Traffic Injuries (RTIs) are the leading cause of death in Qatar1, but the epidemiology of these injuries in the infant (0–1 years) and toddler (2–4 years) [IAT] population has not been reported. This study aimed to document and analyze the epidemiology of RTIs in IATs of Qatar and make recommendations for targeted and age-specific recommendations to improve road safety for this population.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of data on child RTIs and RTI deaths admitted to the Hamad Medical Corporation [HMC] Trauma Center or Mortuary in Doha, Qatar, from 2008–2014, was conducted. Temporal trends in the nature of RTI's and RTI deaths, road user types and mortality rates were calculated and analyzed for the years that age-group population size was available.

Results

There were 189 severe RTIs and 15 RTI deaths during the study period. Males made up 80% of the injured and 60% of fatalities. The average age of the injured was 3 years and for fatalities was 2.8 years. Pedestrians [53%] and unrestrained passengers [43%] made up the majority of the injured. There have been steady declines in severe RTI and RTI death rates from 2008 to 2012 [25.9 to 22.2 RTIs per 100,000 and 0.9 to 4.0 RTI deaths per 100,000], but these rates are still two times higher than those for IAT in other high-income countries [HICs] like the United States and Germany2.

Conclusions

RTIs and RTI death rates in IAT in Qatar have been declining but proven programs for improved safety of child pedestrians and passengers must be implemented if it is to approximate those in other HICs. This includes programs around child restraint use and improving pedestrian environments and practices/supervision for IAT.