Trends of Road Traffic Injury in Ethiopia, 2015 to 2017: National eHMI data analysis

Abstract

Fufa Hunduma and Belayneh Leulseged

Background: Road traffic injury (RTI) is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity globally. It accounts for more than 1.35 million deaths per year. Low and middle-income countries are affected severely, thus, Ethiopia is among the most affected countries. This paper aims to analyze three years of Electronic Health Management Information System (eHMIS) surveillance data of Road traffic injuries in Ethiopia.

Methods: eHMIS Road traffic injury data were reviewed for three years period ( 2015 to 2017) and Analysis was done by Microsoft Excel and SPSS.

Result: The trend of injury in Ethiopia increased from 69882 to 100,628 from 2015 to 2017, which was more than a 30 % increase in three years, and inpatient death increased from 125 to 265. Males were affected more than females. Means of monthly reported injuries were computed for each year and one-way ANOVA was employed to test the difference of means of injuries, and all three means were significantly different with P < 0.05 at 95% CI. Linear regression was used to evaluate the trend per a year; the slope of the trend was estimated to be B = 22033, with 95% CI (17536 -26529), P< 0.05, which indicated a significant increase of the trend.

Conclusion: This analysis revealed that in Ethiopia the burden of Road Traffic Injury (RTI) was increasing. Being male has a greater risk of RTI. High-level political commitment and actions are needed to halt the problem.

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