comprehensive review of epidemiological studies

Background: Road traffic crash is of growing public health importance worldwide contributing significantly to the global disease burden. There is paucity of published data on road traffic crashes in our local environment. This study was carried out to describe the injury characteristics and outcome of road traffic crash victims in our local setting and provide baseline data for establishment of prevention strategies as well as treatment protocols. Methods: This was a prospective hospital based study of road traffic crash victims carried out at Bugando Medical Centre in Northwestern Tanzania between March 2010 and February 2011. After informed consent to participate in the study, all patients were consecutively enrolled into the study. Data were collected using a pre-tested questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS computer software version 15.0. Results: A total of 1678 road traffic crash victims were studied. Their male to female ratio was of 2.1:1. The patients ages ranged from 3 to 78 years with the mean and median of 29.45 ( ± 24.22) and 26.12 years respectively. The modal age group was 21-30 years, accounting for 52.1 % patients. Students (58.8%) and businessmen (35.9%) were the majority of road traffic crash victims. Motorcycle (58.8%) was responsible for the majority of road traffic crashes. Musculoskeletal (60.5%) and the head (52.1%) were the most common body region injured. Open wounds (65.9%) and fractures (26.3%) were the most common type of injuries sustained. The majority of patients (80.3%) were

Aims: This study is to determine the prevalence and factors associated with motorcycle injuries among late adolescent. Methods: This cross sectional study conducted in January 2003 among upper six students from government schools in Selangor, Malaysia. There were 601 self-administered questionnaires distributed to students who were selected through multistage stratified random sampling. Results: Response rate in this study was 97.2 % (601/618). The respondents were mainly Chinese 282 (46.9%) and female 408 (67.9%). The prevalence of injuries was 8.0%. However the prevalence of injuries among the riders and pillion riders were 18. 8 % and 11.6 % respectively. Majority of the respondents sustained bruises (4.5%) and ligament sprain (2.0%). Prevalence of injuries were significantly higher among males respondents (OR 3.6, 95 % CI 1.9.- 6.6) and Malays (OR 3.3, 95 % CI 1.8-5.9). Seventy one percent of the respondents agreed with the mandatory laws on the usage of helmets for motorcyclists. Conclusion: Injuries among adolescents were associated with males and Malays.

Objectives: To evaluate the impact of a revised Italian motorcycle-moped-scooter helmet law on crash brain injuries. Design: A pre-post law evaluation of helmet use and traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurrence from 1999 to 2001. Setting: Romagna region, northeastern Italy, with a 2000 resident population of 983 534 persons. Participants: Motorcycle-moped rider survey for helmet use compliance and all residents in the region admitted to the Division of Neurosurgery of the Maurizio Bufalini Hospital in Cesena, Italy for TBI. Outcome measures: Helmet use compliance and change in TBI admissions and type(s) of brain lesions. Results: Helmet use increased from an average of less than 20 % to over 96%. A comparison of TBI incidence in the Romagna region shows that there was no significant variation before and after intro-duction of the revised helmet law, except for TBI admissions for motorcycle-moped crashes where a 66 % decrease was observed. In the same area TBI admissions by age group showed that motorcycle mopeds riders aged 14–60 years sustained significantly fewer TBIs. The rate of TBI admissions to neu-rosurgery decreased by over 31 % and epidural hematomas almost completely disappeared in crash injured moped riders. Conclusions: The revised Italian mandatory helmet law, with police enforcement, is an effective meas-ure for TBI prevention at all ages. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the most importantcauses of mortality and neuromotor, cognitive, and socialdisabilities in Italy and the world, and motorcycle crashes are one of the leading contributors to this problem. Reports