الملخص الإنجليزي
Background: Road traffic Injuries (RTI) is a major global health problem worldwide. World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that around 1.3 million people being killed and about 50 million people are injured or disabled each year due to RTI. RTI is a multi factorial problem in which many factors act to cause RTI. However, human behavior is the leading cause of RTI. Oman has one of the highest road traffic fatality rate in the world. Apart from the annual police reports, the epidemiology of RTI in Oman has not been described in the literature.
Aims: This thesis attempts to analyze the trend of RTI and its related fatalities and injuries in Oman based on the Royal Oman Police (ROP) data represented by the General Directorate of Traffic. The thesis also aims to describe potential risk factors for fatal crashes using crash database available at the General Directorate of Traffic, ROP. In addition, the thesis aims to assess the driver behavior and its contribution in causing • crashes among Sultan Qaboos University Omani students and staff holding driving license.
Method: The thesis has three main Sub-studies. First, we carried out an ecological study of the national data of RTI (1985-2009). Then, a cross-sectional study of all reported crashes (2005-2009) was done and finally we carried out a web-based survey of the risky driving behaviors of Omani drivers. Data for the first two sub studies was extracted from ROP published reports and from ROP crash database available at Directorate of Traffic. An Arabic version of the Manchester Driver Behavior Questionnaire (DBO) DBQ was administered to Sultan Qaboos University Omani students and staff holding driving license through a web based survey
Analysis: Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. Linear regression analysis was carried out to estimate the average annual changes in the rates. Logistic regression was used to find the association between fatal crashes and various characteristics under study and between causing crashes and various characteristics under study. Principal component analysis (PCA) with varimax rotation was used to examine the factor structure of the DBQ and logistic regression was used to assess association between DBQ structure and causing crashes.
Result: Fatalities and injuries related to RTI have increased during the period from 1985 to 2009 with Omanis, males and individuals aged 26- 50 had higher rate of fatalities. Crashes in Al-Wusta and Al-Batinah regions, crashes in the weekend and those take place early in the morning time were more likely to be fatal compared to other regions in the country, crashes in the weekday and crashes during the day time, respectively. In the third sub-study, drivers reporting traffic offences were more likely to report causing crashes. Out of the driver behavior questionnaire factor (DBQ), error items showed a significant association with causing a crash.
Conclusion: RTI is a major public health challenge in Oman. The number of fatalities and injuries related to RTIs in Oman reflects an urgent need for a new strategy for road safety in Oman, Risk factors for fatal crashes needs to be further investigated for
potential intervention strategies to be implemented. The risky driving behaviors are important risk factors for road traffic crashes that need to be further investigated to mitigate the burden of RTI in the country.
