The public health threat of road traffic accidents in Nigeria: A call to action

Abstract

Public health experts worldwide concede that there is a global epidemic of road traffic accidents (RTA). Globally, RTA is the leading cause of injury-related deaths. In Nigeria, injuries and deaths resulting from RTA are on the rise and are Nigeria's third-leading cause of overall deaths, the leading cause of trauma-related deaths and the most common cause of disability. Do RTA constitute a public health problem in Nigeria? If so, is there a pragmatic approach to combat this problem? A systematic literature search using the advanced features of various databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Google, and directory of open access journals was carried out using the key words “ RTA, public health problem, government response, Nigeria.” Out of initial 850 articles retrieved from the search 15 articles that suited the study were included in this review. There is need to view RTA s as an issue of urgent national importance that needs urgent attention aimed at reducing the health, social, and economic impact. Policy makers at the various levels of government need to recognize this growing problem as a public health crisis and design appropriate policy responses that will back up with meticulous implementation.

Injury Pattern among Road Traffic Accidents’ Victims in Najran City, Saudi Arabia

“…In accordance with The Saudi Trauma Registry that initiated in 2001 [9], An injured patient must meet at least one of the following criteria to be included: 1) admission to the hospital ward or intensive care unit from the emergency de- …”

“…The injuries caused by road traffic accidents (RTAs) become a major public health problem worldwide and a major cause of morbidity and mortality with temporary or permanent disability [1]. Road traffic accidents have become one of the most important disadvantageous impacts of man's interrelationship with technology [2].…”

Pulmonary Complications and Related Consequences in Patients with Traumatic Injuries

“…Trauma has been defined by the World Health Organization as any acute exposure to mechanical or thermal energy, electricity, chemical substances, and ionizing radiation (1) and is considered one of the main causes of death in the world. Every year, around 1.2 million people die in car accidents (1)(2)(3)(4).…”

“…Trauma has been defined by the World Health Organization as any acute exposure to mechanical or thermal energy, electricity, chemical substances, and ionizing radiation (1) and is considered one of the main causes of death in the world. Every year, around 1.2 million people die in car accidents (1)(2)(3)(4). The rate of accidents in Iran is very high, and the rate ABCMED 7 (1): [27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35] Despite the fact that pulmonary complications are important consequent complications of trauma, an epidemiology of its risk factors has not yet been conducted in an appropriate way (7).…”

“…Every year, around 1.2 million people die in car accidents (1)(2)(3)(4). The rate of accidents in Iran is very high, and the rate ABCMED 7 (1): [27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35] Despite the fact that pulmonary complications are important consequent complications of trauma, an epidemiology of its risk factors has not yet been conducted in an appropriate way (7). Pneumonia, plural effusion, emphysema, respiratory distress syndrome, pulmonary edema, pulmonary embolism, and pneumothorax and delayed hemothorax are the most common complications that happen in patients with trauma (8)(9)(10)(11)(12).…”