Road Traffic Accidents in Kazakhstan

BACKGROUND: The article provides the analysis of death rates in road traffic accidents in Kazakhstan from 2004 to 2010 and explores the use of sanitary aviation. METHODS: Data of fatalities caused by road traffic accidents were collected and analysed. Descriptive and analytical methods of epidemiology and biomedical statistics were applied. RESULTS: Totaly 27,003 people died as a result of road traffic accidents in this period. The death rate for the total population due to road traffic accidents was 25.0±2.1(0)/(0000). The death rate for men was (38.3±3.2(0)/(0000)), which was higher (P<0.05) than that for women (12.6±1.1(0)/(0000)). High death rates in the entire male population were identified among men of 30–39 years old, whereas the highest rates for women were attributed to the groups of 50–59 years old and 70–79 years old. In time dynamics, death rates tended to decrease: the total population (T(dec)=−2.4%), men (T(dec)=−2.3%) and women (T(dec)=−1.4%). When researching territorial relevance, the rates were established as low (to 18.3(0)/(0000)), average (between 18.3 and 24.0(0)/(0000)) and high (from 24.0(0)/(0000) and above). Thus, the regions with high rates included Akmola region (24.3(0)/(0000)), Mangistau region (25.9(0)/(0000)), Zhambyl region (27.3(0)/(0000)), Almaty region (29.3(0)/(0000)) and South Kazakhstan region (32.4(0)/(0000)). CONCLUSION: The identified epidemiological characteristics of the population deaths rates from road traffic accidents should be used in integrated and targeted interventions to enhance prevention of injuries in accidents.