Abstract
Background
Traffic injury deaths are the leading cause of injury death in the 5-64-year-old population in Argentina.
Objective
To describe the spatial variations of the risk of mortality of different types of road users and to analyze area factors associated with the risk of mortality in Argentina during the periods 1999-2003 and 2008-2012.
Method
A spatial ecological study was carried out using the departments/parties as spatial units of analysis. The deaths of pedestrians, bicycle, motorcycle, and automobile users, and unspecified road users were considered. Sociodemographic characteristics of area and variables related to automotive patenting were the independent variables.
Results
The mortality risk of road users was spatially concentrated during the two periods in Argentina. The low socioeconomic level at the departmental level was related to a high risk of mortality in pedestrians and bicycle users. In areas with higher patenting of new cars, a higher risk of mortality was observed in bicycle users during 1999-2003.
Conclusion
The great disparities in the geographical distribution of the mortality risk of different road users indicated the adoption of different regional road safety policies at the national level.
Keywords:
spatial analysis; mortality; traffic injuries; spatial regression; Geographic Information Systems