acase@tulane.edu

acase@tulane.edu

acase@tulane.edu

acase@tulane.edu

acase@tulane.edu

acase@tulane.edu

acase@tulane.edu

The Gambia is the smallest country in mainland Africa. Along with the rapid urbanization rate, motorization has increased rapidly as well, contributing to an increased number of road traffic crashes. Road traffic crashes are the 4th leading cause of in-patient deaths in adults in the Gambia and currently are a significant public health problem. This study utilized the Gambia Traffic Force’s data registry to become the first epidemiological study on road traffic injuries in the Gambia as well as the first to analyze the Gambia’s traffic data registry on a national level. Reported crashes from October 1st, 2014 to June 30, 2015 were converted from the paper-based data registry into an electronic database and analyzed statistically, and the location data were geocoded and plotted on the Gambian map. The results of this study showed that crashes involving pedestrian victims and crashes that occurred on unpaved roads were more likely to be associated with outcomes that were fatal or serious. When multiple vehicles were involved in a crash, the involvement of motorcycles and bicycles were more likely to lead to a fatal or serious injury. The mapped data showed that towards the center of each district, the number of crashes increased as pedestrian and vehicle density increased, but that injury severity outcomes were generally minor or none. In contrast, as pedestrian and vehicle density decreased, crash frequency decreased as well, but injury outcomes were more likely to be severe or fatal. The findings of the study also helped in identifying areas in policy and education that need improvement.

acase@tulane.edu

acase@tulane.edu