Epidemiology of Fatalities in Road Traffic Accidents in Faisalabad During 2008-2009 – an Autopsy Study

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate gender and age specific trends as well as pattern of injuries in fatalities due to RTA in Faisalabad. Study Design:  Non interventional, Descriptive. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at Postmortem unit of the Department of Forensic Medicine, Punjab Medical College Faisalabad over a period of two years (2008 & 2009). Methodology: Study includes 86 subjects in which cause of death was road traffic accidents. Subjects were selected from the cases of traumatic death brought for autopsy at the Postmortem unit of Department of Forensic Medicine, Punjab Medical College Faisalabad from Faisalabad City & Sadar area. Manner of death was decided on the basis of the circumstances of the death and findings of autopsy examination. The data was tabulated and analyzed on the basis of variables like age and sex of the victim, month and day of the occurrence and pattern of fatal injuries on the body. Results: Out of 86 fatalities due to RTA, 74 (86%) were male and 12 (14%) were females. Most vulnerable age group was 20-29 years as 24.4% victims belonged to this age group. Maximum deaths (23.3%) occurred on Thursday. Head injury caused death in majority of the cases (53.5%). Conclusion: There is a need to develop preventive strategies to reduce road traffic accidents fatalities considering the magnitude of the problems and groups at high risk.