An observational study to find out the epidemiology of the road traffic accident victims in the Kashmir valley of J & K state

Background: About 120,000 people die on road in India every year. Although India has only 1% of the world’s motor vehicles, but it accounts for 6% of the global road traffic deaths. Research question: What are the different epidemiological determinants related to road traffic accident cases? Objectives: 1.To study the various epidemiological factors related to road traffic accident cases. Study design: Descriptive study. Setting: Study was performed in two tertiary healthcare delivery institutes in Kashmir. Participants: 316 victims of road traffic accidents who reported to BJH & SMHS hospitals in one year period. Study variables: Demographic characteristics of the victims, time, day and month of accidents. Category of road users involved in road traffic accidents, mode of accidents etc. Statistical analysis: Proportions and percentages. Results: There were 80.7% male and 19.3% female accident victims. Students were the maximum (22.2%) among the victims. Majority of the victims belonged to the joint families 207(66%) whereas 109(34%) were from nuclear families. Those driving the vehicles constituted the largest (44.9%) of the victims followed by Pedestrians (31.6%). Among the motorized vehicles, two wheeler drivers were more (44.3%) involved in accidents.