Concept Note for the Research proposal of the epidemiology of road traffic accidents and

associated factors among drivers in Borama town Somaliland.

Road traffic accidents (RTAs) are a major global public health concern that have an
especially negative impact on low- and middle-income nations. The rising number of RTAs
in Borama town, Somaliland, is causing serious concerns as it puts public safety at risk and
puts a strain on the hospital system. Developing successful treatments and policies for
enhancing road safety requires an understanding of the epidemiology of RTAs and the factors
that contribute to these events. The aim of this study is to explore the frequency and patterns
of rear-end accidents (RTAs) among drivers in Borama town, as well as the environmental,
behavioural, and sociodemographic factors that may be involved. In the end, the results will
help reduce RTAs and enhance public health and safety in Borama town by offering
insightful information to elected officials, medical professionals, and urban planners.
research problem

The main focus of the research topic is the excessive frequency of road traffic accidents
(RTAs) in Borama town, Somaliland, and the necessity of comprehending the underlying
causes of these incidents. Even though RTAs are becoming more common, there is still an
absence of local research that looks closely at the epidemiology of these accidents and the
particular behavioural, environmental, and sociodemographic variables that play a role. There
is not enough information at this time to support focused interventions and legislative
initiatives. By examining the frequency and trends of RTAs among drivers in Borama town
and pinpointing important variables linked to these collisions, this study aims to address this
gap in knowledge. By doing the above, the study aims to offer a thorough knowledge that
may direct the development of realistic initiatives that reduce RTAs and promote local road
safety.

Objectives:

1. To determine the prevalence and patterns of road traffic accidents among drivers in Borama town,
Somaliland.

2. To identify socio-demographic factors (such as age, gender, and occupation) associated with the
occurrence of road traffic accidents among drivers in Borama town.

3. To assess the impact of behavioral factors (such as driving habits, alcohol consumption, and
adherence to traffic regulations) and environmental factors (such as road conditions and traffic
density) on the incidence of road traffic accidents in Borama town.

Literature Review:

the existing literature on road traffic accidents (RTAs) indicates that such incidents are a
major global source of injury and death, with low- and middle-income nations suffering the
most casualties. Research suggests that a number of factors, including road infrastructure,
vehicle conditions, driver behaviour, and sociodemographic traits, have a substantial impact
on the frequency of rear-end accidents. Studies conducted in comparable settings highlight
how speeding, drinking alcohol, and breaking traffic laws can raise the likelihood of an
accident. Studies that concentrate on the particular socio-demographic, behavioural, and
environmental factors affecting RTAs in Borama town, Somaliland, are noticeably lacking,
nevertheless. It is more difficult to create efficient, contextually appropriate solutions when
there is a deficit of particular data. By offering a thorough epidemiological analysis of RTAs
in Borama town, identifying significant contributing factors, and giving concentrated
measures to improve road safety in the area, the proposed research seeks to close this gap.
Methodology:

In order to investigate at the epidemiology of traffic accidents and related variables among
drivers in Borama town, Somaliland, a cross-sectional research design will be used in the
current study. Drivers, including those who operate both private and commercial vehicles,
will constitute up the research population. To make sure that the sample is representative of
the various driver categories, stratified random sampling will be employed. Drivers will be
given surveys and structured interviews to gather data, and police and hospital records
pertaining to RTAs will also be examined. Questionnaires intended to record driving habits,
environmental conditions, and sociodemographic data will be among the data gathering
instruments. Software like SPSS will be used for statistical analysis in order to find
meaningful correlations between the variables. The data will be summarised using descriptive
statistics, and the type and degree of relationships between the identified components and the
incidence of RTAs will be ascertained using inferential statistics.
Expected Outcomes

The intended result of this study is a detailed epidemiological profile of road traffic accidents
(RTAs) in Borama town, Somaliland, which will include information on the frequency and
trends of these occurrences among drivers. Significant sociodemographic characteristics like
age, gender, and occupation, behavioural characteristics like driving while drunk, and
environmental factors like traffic density and road conditions are likely to be identified as key
findings that influence the incidence of RTAs. By providing localised insights unique to
Borama town, these results will close the present knowledge gap and facilitate the creation of
focused actions. The research findings will also be helpful to legislators, medical
professionals, and urban planners in developing and putting into practice efficient road safety
policies, which could lower the frequency of RTAs, improve public health, and raise overall
road safety in the area.
Significance of the Study

This research is important because it can shed light on the variables that contribute to road
traffic accidents (RTAs) and its epidemiology among drivers in Borama town, Somaliland.
Through the identification of certain socio-demographic, behavioural, and environmental
factors that contribute to RTAs, the study aims to close the current knowledge gap and
provide guidance for the creation of focused interventions and policies. The results can help
urban planners build safer road infrastructure, legislators create more effective traffic
legislation, and healthcare practitioners create preventative measures and educational
initiatives. In the end, this study will benefit the field by expanding knowledge of RTAs in a
specific setting, which will enhance public health outcomes in Borama town and comparable
communities and increase road safety and accident rates.
Timeline:

 Literature review: 1 months

 Data collection: 2 months

 Data analysis: 1 months

 Report writing: 1 months.

 Total: 5 months

Budget:

 Stationery and materials: $50

 Travel: $50

 Miscellaneous: $50

 Total: $150

Reference:

1. World Health Organization (2022) *Global status report on road safety*. Available at:
https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/global-status-report-on-road-safety-2022 (Accessed: 25
July 2024).

2. Peden, M., Scurfield, R., Sleet, D., Mohan, D., Hyder, A.A., Jarawan, E. and Mathers, C. (2004)
*World report on road traffic injury prevention*. Geneva: World Health Organization.

3. Salifu, M. and Agyemang, W. (2010) ‘Underlying risk factors for road traffic crashes in Ghana’,
*International Journal of Injury Control and Safety Promotion*, 17(1), pp. 27-32.

4. Odero, W., Garner, P. and Zwi, A. (1997) ‘Road traffic injuries in developing countries: a
comprehensive review of epidemiological studies’, *Tropical Medicine & International Health*, 2(5),
pp. 445-460.

5. Nantulya, V.M. and Reich, M.R. (2002) ‘The neglected epidemic: road traffic injuries in developing
countries’, *BMJ*, 324(7346), pp. 1139-1141.

6. Dandona, R., Kumar, G.A., Ameer, M.A., Reddy, G.B. and Dandona, L. (2008) ‘Underreporting of
road traffic injuries to the police: results from two data sources in urban India’, *Injury Prevention*,
14(6), pp. 360-365.
7. Downing, A. (1991) ‘Pedestrian safety in developing countries’, *Proceedings of the third
international conference on safety and the environment in the 21st century*. Tel Aviv, Israel, pp. 141-
149.

8. Jha, N., Srinivasa, D.K., Roy, G. and Jagdish, S. (2004) ‘Epidemiological study of road traffic accident
cases: a study from South India’, *Indian Journal of Community Medicine*, 29(1), pp. 20-24.

9. Tiwari, G., Mohan, D. and Fazio, J. (1998) ‘Conflict analysis for prediction of fatal crash locations in
mixed traffic streams’, *Accident Analysis & Prevention*, 30(2), pp. 207-215.

10. Ghaffar, A., Hyder, A.A. and Masud, T.I. (2004) ‘The burden of road traffic injuries in developing
countries: the 1st national injury survey of Pakistan’, *Public Health*, 118(3), pp. 211-217.