Background Even though Road Traffic Injury [RTI] death rates have declined in Qatar,¹ they remain three times higher than Western European countries and are the leading cause of death.² This study will collect and analyse key sources of RTI data from Hamad Medical Corporation [HMC], the main national healthcare provider, to better define RTI epidemiology and make policy recommendations for national road safety priorities in Qatar.

Methods A retrospective analysis of RTI data from three important sources of health sector data: the HMC Ambulance Service, major Emergency Department [ED] and trauma registry was conducted for a 12-month period in 2013–14. Standard measures of central tendency were computed and comparisons were made by age, gender, nationality and relative risk.

Results 13,000 patient episodes were collected, summarised and analysed: 10,063 ambulance transportations, including 867 trauma patients, and 2,963 other ED visits. The results identify the key demographic, temporal and geographical features of this public health emergency. Indigenous Qatari males aged 15–19 have a relative risk of RTI 8–11 times higher than the general population and those aged 20–24 have a relative risk 6–9 times higher. RTIs in those aged 25 and above are overwhelmingly in non-Qataris and vary substantially in type of road use between the other Arabic and South Asian residents of this heterogeneous population. The results identify temporal, seasonal and cultural effects associated with RTIs and a map of accident “hot spots” by geographical zone.

Conclusions It is possible to identify with a high degree of probability which road users are most at risk of harm, how, when and where. Using predictive data, public policy makers may be able to more effectively target regulatory, technological and behavioural interventions to those most at risk of harm. These interventions should focus on young male drivers, especially indigenous Qatari, and expatriate pedestrians, especially migrant labourers.

References

1. Mamtani R, Al-Thani MH, Al-Thani AA, Sheikh JI, Lowenfels AB. Motor vehicle injuries in Qatar: time trends in a rapidly developing Middle Eastern nation. Inj Prev2012Apr;18(2):130–2. doi: 10.1136/injuryprev-2011-040147. Epub 2011 Oct 12.

2. Consunji RJ, Peralta RR, Al-Thani H, Latifi R. The implications of the relative risk for road mortality on road safety programmes in Qatar. Inj Prev2015Apr;21(e1):e105–8. doi: 10.1136/injuryprev-2013-040939. Epub 2014 Jan 28.