Road traffic injury in Lebanon: A prospective study to assess injury characteristics and risk factors

Abstract

Background: Road traffic injury (RTI) is a significant yet poorly characterized cause of morbidity and mortality in the Middle East. This hospital-based-study examined RTI in Lebanon and provided an understanding of their characteristics. Methods:We collected prospective RTI data from three participating hospitals over 3 months using a designed tool based on Canadian CHIRPP and WHO tools. We performed logistic regression analysis to examine the relationship between contributing risk factors (age, sex) and injury types as well as the association of safety measures used (seatbelts or helmets) and body parts injured.Results: A total of 153 patients were collected. Male preponderance with 72%, with mean age 32.6 (SD = 14.9) years. RTI was highest among passengers aged 15 to 29 (48%). Motorcyclists comprised the greatest injury proportion (38%), followed by vehicle-occupants (35%), and pedestrians (25%) (P = .04). Hip injuries represented the most affected body part (48.7%), followed by head/neck (38.2%). Only 31% (n = 47) of victims applied safety measures (seatbelts or helmets). Six drivers (7%) reported cell phone use at collision. The use of safety measures was associated with a substantial reduction in head/neck injuries (P = .03), spine injuries (P = .049), and lower risk of traumatic brain injury (TBI) (P = .02).Conclusions: RTI is a major health problem in Lebanon. Safety measures, though poorly adhered to, were associated with less severe injuries, and should be further promoted via awareness campaigns and enforcement. Trauma registries are needed to assess the RTI burden and inform safety interventions and quality-of-care improvement programs. K E Y W O R D S middle eastern region' Lebanon, road traffic injury, traumatic brain injury 1 | INTRODUCTION Road traffic injury (RTI) is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity among young adults aged 15 to 29 years globally, yet it remains a neglected public health problem in many countries. 1-3 Approximately 1.35 million RTI related deaths occur annually, making it the eighth leading cause of mortality globally, and predicted to become the fifth leading cause of death by 2030. 3 RTI morbidity

A Clustering Analysis of Lebanese Adaptive Driving Behaviors in Response to Road Complexity

“…In Cluster 1, drivers demonstrate a conservative approach to speed across various levels of road complexity, as illustrated in Fig. (4). This cautious behavior is evident through their speed choices in scenarios ranging from to most complex.…”

“…Alarming statistics illustrate this irregular situation. According to a 2021 estimate by the WHO, Lebanon experienced approximately 544 annual fatalities on its roads, a heavy toll for a population of less than 5.6 million [2,3,4]. Given these challenges, the complexity of the traffic safety environment in Lebanon appears to be multifaceted.…”

Analyzing Drivers’ Passing Decision on Two-Lane Two-Way Highways. (c2022)

“…With regards to the Eastern Mediterranean Region, road traffic injuries are considered to be an important cause of fatalities and disabilities (Chandran et al, 2010;Khalil et al, 2017). In Lebanon, it is believed that road traffic injuries are a growing burden (Ghandour & Hammoud, 2020;Ghoubaira et al, 2021). Moreover, the increasing frequency of car crashes has become one of the most worrying concerns today within the Lebanese context with half of these road crashes occurring on undivided two-lane roads (Choueiri et al, 2010).…”