Epidemiology of Road Traffic Accidents and Preventive Approaches in Thachang District, Singburi Province

Abstract

Road traffic accidents are a major public health problem. Therefore, this mixed method research aimed to investigate the epidemiology of road traffic accidents and propose preventive approaches. Data were 555 patient records collected from ict-pher.moph.go.th. In-depth interviews with 61 key informants were also conducted. Data were analyzed by percentage and content analysis.           

            The results revealed that 1) the epidemiology of road traffic accidents was found to be prevalent among males (51.9%), aged 15-19 years (31.9%). Most of them were labor workers (92.8%), riding a motorcycle (92.8%), and not using safety equipment (51.5%). Road traffic accidents mostly occurred during the daytime in Pho Prachak Sub-district 2) Problems included reckless driving behaviors–aggressive or fast driving, traffic violations, etc.; driving environments, e.g. slippery, irregular or uneven, and obstructed roads, and insufficient traffic lights; and ineffective data integration and policy implementation. 3) To solve the problems, policy makers, road users, hospitals, local administrative organizations, and educational institutions were recommended to take serious actions.

The research recommended that 1) the District Road Safety Operations Center come up with a driving safety zone model in Thachang District, and 2) study effects of road traffic accidents on victims to discover appropriate remedies.