Original Article
Understanding the factors of road crash severity in Benin: a matched case-control study
Submitted: 03 April 2024 | Published: 21 June 2023
About the author(s)
Donatien Daddah, Regional Institute of Public Health-Ouidah, Benin; School of Public Health, Université Libre de Bruxelles, BelgiumYolaine Glèlè Ahanhanzo, Regional Institute of Public Health-Ouidah, Benin
Alphonse Kpozehouen, Regional Institute of Public Health-Ouidah, Benin
Bella Hounkpe Dos-Santos, Regional Institute of Public Health-Ouidah, Benin; School of Public Health, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Benin
Emmanuel Bonnet, Institute for Research on Sustainable Development (Prodig CNRS - IRD), Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University, AgroParisTech, Aubervilliers, France
Alain Levêque, School of Public Health, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium
Yves Coppieters, School of Public Health, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium
Abstract
Background. In Benin, due to the unavailability of comprehensive data on road crashes, road safety policies are mainly based on partial statistics provided by the police. These remain unreliable in terms of injury severity and risk factors. This study aims to determine the factors influencing the severity of injuries after a road crash in Benin.
Methods. The present nested case-control study, matched for age and sex, was based on a hospital cohort of road crash victims set up in five hospitals in Benin between July 2019 and January 2020. A sample of severely injured patients according to the Abbreviated Injury Scale (cases) was compared to non-severely injured patients (controls).
Results. The severe crash occurred mainly during the night between 8 p.m. and midnight (36.2% of cases vs. 24.4% of controls) and on main roads (57.8% of cases vs. 34.7% of controls). Factors associated with injury severity were the time of the crash: night between 8 p.m. and midnight [Adjusted Odd Ratio (AOR): 2.1; CI 95%: 1.4-3.2], major roads (national interstate roads and national roads) (AOR: 2.8; CI 95%: 2.0-4.0) and non-work-related travel (AOR: 1.8; CI 95%: 1.2-2.7).
Conclusions. Factors associated with road crash severity in Benin were night-time, main roads, and non-work related travel. Raising user awareness about compliance with traffic rules and improving public lighting, especially along main roads could help reduce the number of serious injuries.
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