Extent, consequences and economic burden of road traffic crashes in Iran
Abstract: Background: Road Traffic Injuries (RTIs) as a result of road traffic crashes (RTCs) rank as the leading cause of death, disability and property loss worldwide, especially in low and middle-income countries. This study aims to analyze the costs of RTCs in Iran. Methods: A standard human...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences
2014-07-01
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| Series: | Journal of Injury and Violence Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://jivresearch.org/jivr/index.php/jivr/article/view/191 |
| Summary: | Abstract:
Background: Road Traffic Injuries (RTIs) as a result of road traffic crashes (RTCs) rank as the
leading cause of death, disability and property loss worldwide, especially in low and
middle-income countries. This study aims to analyze the costs of RTCs in Iran.
Methods: A standard human capital approach was used to estimate the costs. Costs included
medical, administrative and funeral costs, property damage, production lost and intangible costs.
Data about the number of deaths and injuries resulting from RTIs between 20 March 2009 and
20 March 2010 was obtained from two national databases designed at the Center for Disaster
Management and Medical Emergencies (CDMME) and the Legal Medicine Organization (LMO),
respectively. The severity and medical costs of injuries were identified by reviewing 400 medical
records that were selected randomly from patients who were admitted to two large trauma
centers in Shariati and Sina hospitals in Tehran province. Moreover, information about production
lost, property damage, rehabilitation cost, intangible costs and administration costs were
collected by review of current evidence and consulting with expert opinion.
Results: In total 806,922 RTIs and 22,974 deaths resulted from the RTCs in the study period. The
total cost of RTCs was about 72,465 billion Rials (7.2 billion US Dollars), which amounts to 2.19%
of Iran’s Gross Domestic Production (GDP). Direct costs were 3,516 billion Rials (around 48.6 %
of the total costs), following by 24,785 billion Rials (around 34.2 % of the total costs) for
production lost and 12,513 billion Rials (around 17.2 % of the total costs) for intangible costs.
Conclusions: This study indicated that the burden of both RTCs and RTIs in Iran is substantial.
Moreover, RTCs have significant economic consequences and are a large drain on healthcare
resources. |
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| ISSN: | 2008-2053 2008-4072 |