TITLE:
The Association of World Health Organisation (WHO) Safe Community Programme with Death Rate from Motorcycle Accidents in Iran
AUTHORS:
Alireza Moghisi, Reza Mohammadi, Leif Svanstrom, Hossein Kazemeini
KEYWORDS:
Motorcyclists’ Death, Epidemiology
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Preventive Medicine,
Vol.4 No.8,
August
28,
2014
ABSTRACT: Background: Many
developing countries are facing the problem of rapidly rising death rate from
fatal accidents involving motorcycles. Objective: To determine the effect of
participation and implementation of the World Health Organization (WHO) Safe
Community Programme on death rate from fatal motorcycle accidents. Methods:
Motorcycle’ fatal accident data were obtained from forensic medicine
departments and hospital records in 11 cities located in three provinces in
Iran during 2006-2007. Data were analyzed using chi-square and ANOVA tests.
Fidelity of the data was safeguarded by using national security coding for each
individual involved in the accident. Results: The highest death rate was found
in the Fars province followed by Khorasan and Bushehr provinces. In Fars
province, the highest mortality rate was found in Niriz city, which did not
implement the Safe Community Programme and the lowest death rate was reported
from Arsanjan city participating in Safe Community. Similar results were found
in the Khorasan province. In Busher province, the highest death rate was found
in Busher city participating in the program and the lowest in Genaveh city—not
participating in the program. Among sex and age groups, males aged 19 - 39
years old had a highest death rate. Half of the death occurred at the accident
scene—25% during a transfer to the hospital and 25% of death occurred at the
hospital. Conclusions: The Safe Community Programme is a promising model to
prevent death from fatal motorcycle accidents in urban areas in Iran.