Factors pertaining to road traffic injuries; a systematic scoping review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Background Many factors have been associated with road traffic injuries (RTI) while no study has cumulatively gathered and pooled them. Methods A comprehensive search was carried out in PubMed, World of Sciences, and Scopus based on predefined keywords. Two independent reviewers performed screening the search findings and data extraction procedure. Risk of bias was checked based on the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. Odds ratios (OR) were extracted and pooled by meta-analysis to reach the overall effect. Results In all, 34 studies were included that summed 277,943 individuals, reporting at least one factor pertaining to RTI. The factors related to an increased rate of RTIs (OR 1.49, 95% confidence interval 1.35–1.64). Based on the included publications, factors could be grouped as alcohol consumption (1.74, 1.32–2.30), experienced driving and self-confidence (106, 0.94–1.20), seatbelt fastening incompliance (1.45, 1.39–1.51), driving in poor roads and rural areas (1.31, 1.03–1.42), lower education level (1.30, 1.17–1.44), lower income (1.23, 1.13–1.33), malfunctioned vehicle (1.77, 1.52–2.05), and driving with psychological tensions (1.20, 1.11–1.30). Conclusion Almost all the discovered factors in this study were among the modifiable factors that highlight the need for preventive and debarment measures.