The Association between Mobile Phone Use and Severe Traffic Injuries: A Case-Control Study from Saudi Arabia

Suliman Alghnam, Jawaher Towhari, Mohamed Alkelya, Ahmad Alsaif, Mohamed Alrowaily, Fawaz Alrabeeah and Ibrahim Albabtain
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Suliman Alghnam: Population Health Section-King Abdullah International Medical Research Centre (KAIMRC), King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS), Riyadh 11426, Saudi Arabia
Jawaher Towhari: College of Medicine, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh 11426, Saudi Arabia
Mohamed Alkelya: Health Research Department, Saudi Health Council, Riyadh, 13315, Saudi Arabia
Ahmad Alsaif: Community Medicine Department, King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh 12372, Saudi Arabia
Mohamed Alrowaily: Community Medicine Department, King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh 12372, Saudi Arabia
Fawaz Alrabeeah: King Abdulaziz Medical City, National Guard Healthcare Affairs, Riyadh 11426, Saudi Arabia
Ibrahim Albabtain: Department of Surgery, King Abdulaziz Medical City, National Guard Healthcare Affairs, Riyadh 11426, Saudi Arabia

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 15, 1-11

Abstract: Road traffic injury (RTI) is the third leading cause of death in Saudi Arabia. Using a mobile phone when driving is associated with distracted driving, which may result in RTIs. Because of limited empirical data, we investigated the association between mobile phone use and RTI in injured patients and community controls in Riyadh. Cases were patients admitted to King Abdulaziz Medical City (KAMC) between October 2016 and March 2018 due to RTIs. During admission, mobile phone use at the time of the accident was investigated. The controls were drivers observed at various locations citywide. A logistic regression model was constructed to estimate the association between mobile phone use while driving and sustaining RTIs. We included 318 cases and 1700 controls. For the cases, using a mobile phone was associated with higher severity and prevalence of disability. In addition, using a mobile phone while driving is associated with 44% higher odds of incurring a severe RTI ( p = 0.04). Mobile phone use while driving is prevalent in Riyadh and pose a significant threat of disability. In addition, the low prevalence of seatbelt use is alarming and requires significant improvement. Prevention programs may use these findings to educate the public and policymakers and to advocate for increased visibility of enforcement to reduce RTIs and improve population health.

Keywords: road injuries; mobile phone; seatbelt; HRQOL; Saudi Arabia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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