Factors Associated with Fatalities from Road Traffic Accidents Among Injured Patients Treated in Government Hospitals, Mukdahan Province, 2022 - 2024

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the factors associated with fatalities from road traffic accidents among injured patients who were brought to the emergency room of government hospitals in Mukdahan Province during 2022–2024. A cross-sectional analytical design was employed. From a total of 9,306 road traffic injury cases involving all types of vehicles, and total data from of 4,026 cases that met the inclusion criteria were selected as the study sample. Data were collected from the Injury Surveillance (IS) system. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation. and Association were deployed using Inferential statistics, presenting crude odds ratio and adjusted odds ratio (OR_adj) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). A significance level of 0.05 was applied. The results showed that age and transfer by emergency medical services (EMS) were significantly associated with fatalities. Individuals aged 20 - 59 years (OR_adj=3.51; 95% CI: 1.03–11.96; P=0.044), aged 60 years and above (OR_adj=4.96; 95% CI: 1.17–21.02; P=0.030) and transfer by EMS (OR_adj=3.46; 95% CI: 1.37–8.73; P=0.008). Wearing a helmet/Seat Belt, Road type, injury mechanism, and head injury were associated with fatalities not significant. Therefore, targeted proactive prevention measures focusing on individuals aged 20 - 59 years and those aged 60 years and above. In addition, enhancing and improving emergency medical services transfer cases to prevent road traffic deaths in alignment with the local area context.