Title: The Effects Of Socio-Economic Factors On The Severity Of Road Traffic Accidents In Nigerian Drivers Aged 18 To 65years: A Case Study Of Abia State And Imo State
Authors: Okoro, Ford D. C. U, Ozims S. J., Obasi K. O. , Anyanwu K. O.
Volume: 8
Issue: 9
Pages: 78-91
Publication Date: 2024/09/28
Abstract:
In order to determine the effects of socio-economic factors of drivers on the severity of road traffic accidents in Nigeria, a descriptive study has been conducted in which structured questionnaire was administered on weekly basis, starting from June 1, 2022 to March 2023, to a total of 624 Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) staff on duty in the various work stations in Abia and Imo States in for collection of road traffic accident data within the stated period of study. The causes of road traffic accidents that occurred within the period were investigated and relevant data was recorded. Completed questionnaire was retrieved at the end of each week for concluded investigations while some were collected a little longer for prolonged investigations. The total numbers of similar response on a particular question over a given population was recorded as quantitative data. The data was sorted and recorded in accordance to the socio-economic variable (which includes age, marital status, occupation, educational status and number of driver's children). The data was analyzed using Version 2010 Microsoft Excel and version 29.0 SPSS for Chi-square tests. The results show that age (P = 0.028); marital status (P = 0.013) and occupation (P < 0.001) have significant association with severity of road traffic accident whereas educational status (P = 0.417) and number of drivers' children (P = 0.546) showed insignificant association with severity of road traffic accident. The findings of this study calls for reawakening of the Nigerian Road safety worker on the need for strict compliance of drivers to all the traffic laws stated in Nigerian Road Safety Code: 2015-2023. The intervention of the federal government of Nigerian is needed for improving the nation's economy which in turn will reduce the morbidity and mortality of road traffic accidents.