Alcohol Although alcohol is a known risk factor for traffic crashes, reliable data on the prevalence of driving under the influence of alcohol in developing countries are sparse. In Kenya, a survey of hospitalized patients revealed that of those being treated for traffic-related injuries, 40% of drivers and 20% of pedestrians reported being under the [...]

Continue reading " Road Traffic Injuries: Hidden Epidemic in Less Developed Countries. KEY DETERMINANTS OF RTIS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES – Part 2 "

KEY DETERMINANTS OF RTIS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES Numerous factors play a significant role in traffic crashes and resulting injuries. Some involve human behavior while others are system-related. Risk factors for the majority of RTIs around the world are the same, although they may differ in magnitude depending on the region. Some of the major factors [...]

Continue reading " Road Traffic Injuries: Hidden Epidemic in Less Developed Countries. KEY DETERMINANTS OF RTIS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES "

Pedestrians The physical separation of pedestrians from traffic has been shown to reduce pedestrian injuries and deaths. Despite this, sidewalks are primarily limited to urban areas, even in developed countries, leaving semiurban and rural inhabitants to walk along roadways. Urban sidewalks may be crowded with ven dors, in disrepair or simply not used. In Karachi, [...]

Continue reading " Road Traffic Injuries: Hidden Epidemic in Less Developed Countries. INTERVENTIONS – Part 2 "

In this section, we discuss interventions that have been proven effective in reducing RTI morbidity and mortality in HICs (Table 3) and examine their potential applicability to developing countries. Current interventions, barriers to implementation, intervention effectiveness and good practice examples in some developing countries are also highlighted to demonstrate what can be achieved even in [...]

Continue reading " Road Traffic Injuries: Hidden Epidemic in Less Developed Countries. INTERVENTIONS "

INTRODUCTION The World Health Organization (WHO) produced its first authoritative report on the problem of road traffic injuries (RTIs) more than 40 years ago. In 1974, Resolution WHA27.59 was passed by the World Health Assembly, declaring RTIs “a major public health issue” and calling on member states to address it. Nevertheless, implementation of programs has [...]

Continue reading " Road Traffic Injuries: Hidden Epidemic in Less Developed Countries "