Traffic injury mortality in children in transitional Lithuania – a longitudinal analysis from 1971 to 2005

Abstract

Road traffic injury remains a serious public health problem in children and young people in Lithuania, which requires a high priority.

Taking the long view: a systematic review reporting long-term perspectives on child unintentional injury

“…Twenty-four studies were from high income countries (Canada, England, Finland, Japan, Norway, Scotland, Sweden, Switzerland and the USA) and six from middle income countries (Chile, Croatia, Lithuania and Taiwan). Three of the included studies were updated reports26 32 41 of earlier publications 25 31 40. No studies were identified from low income countries.…”

“…Generally, mortality rates were also falling for specific types of injuries, where these were reported (particularly deaths from burns/fire, drowning and poisoning) (table 2). The notable exception was mortality from road traffic injury, where seven studies reported rising or variable road traffic injury mortality,19 23 24 30 35 40 41 particularly in older adolescents23 40 41 where this was specified. Greater variability in trends in injury mortality was seen in studies from the middle income countries compared with those from high income countries.…”

“…Improved healthcare was reported as a likely explanation in 16 (52%) studies (mostly advances in trauma care and improved access to trauma services). Six authors (19%) reported political explanations for trends: two relating to changing injuries secondary to war time injury risks;23 28 two relating to momentous social change following independence from USSR35 40 41 and one secondary to the establishment of a high profile child safety strategy 18…”

The sources of the Kuznets relationship between road fatalities and economic growth

“…For example, Garg and Hyder (2006), based on traffic-related injury and mortality data from India, reported an inverted U-shaped relationship between traffic fatality rates and economic growth. Another study by Strukcinskiene et al (2008), using data from Lithuania for the period 1971-2005, revealed an inverted U-shaped trend in traffic mortality for the age group between 0 and 19 with a peak around year 1991.…”

Traffic death trends in children aged 0–14 years in Lithuania: patterns by age group

“…From previous longitudinal studies, it is known that, over three decades in Lithuania, the road traffic mortality rate in children aged 0-19 years has remained much the same (Strukcinskiene, Martinkenas, Towner, Janson, & Andersson, 2008), but in children aged 0-14 years, it has decreased significantly (Strukcinskiene, 2008). The study question is to find out what has happened in the narrow age groups (1-4, 5-9 and 10-14), which needs more attention and which is the most risky group.…”