PH 210: Epidemiology for Public Health Practice

Dr. Grosskopf
Lab #9: Descriptive Epidemiology

NOTE: You may want to use outside data/information to help complete this lab.

1. Current national data show that injuries from motor vehicle accidents are a major cause of mortality, morbidity
and disability. They represent a particularly important health problem from the perspective of years of potential
life lost.

a. Analyze the problem of injuries from motor vehicle accidents from an epidemiological perspective (including
current distributions by population; and host, time, and environmental factors): According to CDC, more
than 32,000 people are killed and 2 million are injured each year from motor vehicle crashes. In
2013, the US crash death rate was more than twice the average of other high-income countries. In
the US, front seat belt use was lower than in most other comparison countries. One in 3 crash
deaths in the US involved drunk driving, and almost 1 in 3 involved speeding. Lower death rates in
other high-income countries and a high percentage of risk factors in the US suggest that we can
make more progress in reducing crash deaths. Major risk factors for crash deaths in the US were: (1)
Not using seat belts, car seats, and booster seats contributed to over 9,500 crash deaths; (2) Drunk
driving contributed to more than 10,000 crash deaths (3) Speeding contributed to more than 9,500
crash deaths. The US had lower-than-average front and back seat belt use compared with other
high-income countries. About half of drivers or passengers who died in crashes in the US weren’t
buckled up. https://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/motor-vehicle-safety/index.html
b.

c. Based on your analysis, describe potential prevention initiatives that may warrant consideration: Potential
prevention initiatives to control motor vehicle accident: According to WHO survey and further some
more reasearches,
d. There are three levels of prevention in motor vehicle accident,
e. 1. Primary prevention- Removal of circumstances causing injury. Eg., Traffic law enforcement, traffic
speed reduction, traffic signals, road design, pedestrian facilities, behavioral interventions like
reducing alcohol consumption while driving, avoid elderly driver driving in urban areas, during
heavy traffic times or at night, adequate rest in between driving etc.,
f. 2. Secondary prevention- Reducing severity of injury should an accident occur. Eg., two wheeler
helmets, vehicle with safety measures like lower force air bags, seat belts, ABS (antilock) brakes
etc., place crash protective road side objects.
g. 3. Tertiary prevention- Optimal treatment and rehabilitation following injuries. Eg., Effective first aid,
appropriate hospital care.
Reference: http://www.who.int/gho/road_safety/mortality/en/