Epidemiological Profile of Road Traffic Fatalities: A Retrospective Study of Autopsied Cases at Belagavi, Karnataka

Road traffic accident is one among the top five causes of morbidity and mortality in South-East Asian countries including India. Its socio-economic repercussions are a matter of great concern. This present study has been conducted to assess the prevalence and epidemiological factors related to road traffic accidents and its fatalities. Victims with alleged history of road traffic accidents, who were admitted to Dr. Prabhakar Kore Hospital and Research Centre, Belagavi and subsequently died and underwent autopsy were included in the present study. A total of 1300 medico-legal autopsies were conducted during the period, of which 642 were road traffic fatalities, constituting nearly 50% of the total cases. Road traffic accidents are a major cause of death among all un-natural deaths. Our study intends to find out the epidemiological factors, risk factors, use of safety measures, compliance with traffic rules and regulations, presenting injuries and interventions required in victims of road traffic accidents to prevent morbidity.