Investigating the Effect of Socio-Economic and Behavioral Factors on the Deaths Caused by Road Accidents of Drivers

Today, traffic accidents resulting in fatalities are recognized as one of the significant challenges facing developing countries, with substantial economic and social repercussions. This study aimed to investigate the effect of socio-economic and behavioral factors on the fatalities caused by road accidents involving drivers in the West Azerbaijan Province, Iran.

The present study was a cross-sectional-analytical research conducted from 2018 to 2022. The research population included 428 drivers hospitalized due to road accident. A Generalized Structural Equation Modeling (GSEM) approach was employed to assess the simultaneous relationships among the variables, based on a dichotomous response variable. Data analysis was performed using Stata and Mplus software.

A significant positive linear relationship was found between deaths caused by traffic accidents and several factors: gender [odds ratio (OR) = 1.770, P = 0.030], education (OR = 2.053, P = 0.002), alcohol consumption (OR = 2.193, P = 0.001), drug use (OR = 3.170, P < 0.001), use of mobile phone (OR = 6.695, P < 0.001), safety belt usage (OR = 3.664, P < 0.001), airbag (OR = 4.314, P = 0.038), occupation (OR = 5.809, P = 0.012), income (OR = 8.212, P = 0.013), and the value of the car (OR = 9.634, P = 0.001). In contrast, marital status showed a significant negative linear relationship (OR = 0.43, P = 0.014). Besides, no significant relationship was found between deaths caused by traffic accidents and age.

The results indicated a significant relationship between socio-economic and behavioral factors and accidental deaths. Specifically, low car value, low driver income, and the use of mobile phones while driving were found to have the greatest impact. It is recommended that health and economic policymakers acknowledge these risk factors and implement appropriate interventions to reduce accidents and fatalities associated with them.