Road traffic injuries and deaths and the achievement of UN Sustainable Development Goals in Brazil: results from the Global Burden of Disease Study, 1990 to 2019

Abstract

Introduction: Brazil ranks 5th in the number of deaths due to road injuries. This study aimed to analyze mortality and disabilities resulting from road injuries in Brazil, and to assess the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) target of reducing deaths due to road injuries by 50% by 2030. Methods: This descriptive and exploratory study used the estimates from the Global Burden of Disease 2019: indicators of mortality, premature deaths, and disabilities according to sex, age group, and type of transport for 1990, 2015, and 2019. Time trends in mortality rates from 1990 to 2019 were assessed, and a projection for 2030 was calculated, applying a linear regression model. Results: Deaths due to road injuries were 44,236 in 1990, and 44,529 in 2019, representing a 43% reduction in mortality rates. The highest rates were in the North, Northeast, and Midwest regions of Brazil, in males and young adults. A 77% reduction was observed in mortality rates for pedestrians and an increase of 53% for motorcyclists and of 54% for cyclists during the period. In terms of motorcycle road injuries, the mortality rate for men increased from 7.3/100,000 (1990) to 11.7/100,000 inhabitants (2019). The rates of premature deaths and disabilities were also higher for men when compared to women. Amputations, fractures, spinal cord injuries, and head trauma were the main types of road injuries. The projections for 2030 show that Brazil might not reach the SDG target. Conclusions: Despite the decline in mortality rates, the 2030 Agenda's target might not be achieved.

Individual characteristics associated with road traffic collisions and healthcare seeking in low- and middle-income countries and territories

“…Unfortunately, despite RTCs being the leading cause of death for children and young adults aged 5-29 years, it has been largely ignored by the current child health agenda [1]. To increase global attention, the United Nations have now promoted a second global decade of Action for Road safety from 2021 to 2030 [9], with an extended-relative to the SDGs-target to reduce road traffic collision deaths by half by 2030 [10].…”

The Influence of Fatalistic Beliefs and Risk Perceptions on Road Safety Attitudes in Latin America; a Two-Country Study

“…Both are middle income countries (OECD, 2021) and both see road fatality figures higher than their regional average, at 19.7 (Brazil) and 21.3 (Ecuador) road traffic fatalities per 100,000 people each year (compared to an average of 15.6 across the wider Americas; WHO, 2018). In Brazil, although improvements to safety have been made over the past 30 years (with reductions in fatality rates between 1990 and 2019), it remains the fifth leading country for deaths due to road injury and it is unlikely to meet the 2030 sustainable development goal (SDG) road safety targets (Blumenberg et al 2018;Malta et al 2022). The importance of research in providing an impetus for road safety efforts having been highlighted in the country (Koon et al 2022).…”