Citation

March JA, Evans MA, Ward B, Brewer KL. Acad. Emerg. Med. 2003; 10(11): 1249-1252.

Affiliation

Department of Emergency Medicine, East Carolina University School of Medicine, Division of Emergency Medical Services, Greenville, NC 27858, USA. marchj@mail.ecu.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, Society for Academic Emergency Medicine, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

14597501

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Deaths from motor vehicle crashes

(MVCs) have decreased significantly over the past three decades. Unfortunately,

few data have been collected regarding death rates for MVCs in minority

populations. The purpose of this study was to compare the death rate of whites

versus Hispanics for MVCs in a rural environment. METHODS: This study examined

one rural county in North Carolina from January 1, 1999, to December 31, 1999. A

retrospective cohort study was performed using the North Carolina State Highway

Patrol computerized database of MVCs. Data regarding the total number of MVCs,

fatalities, alcohol-related deaths, seatbelt usage, and cause of the collision

were analyzed for both whites and Hispanics. Census information regarding

population in this region also was obtained from the U.S. Bureau of Census. Data

were analyzed using a chi-square test, with an alpha value of 0.05 used to

establish statistical significance. RESULTS: During the study period, whites

were involved in 2,689 MVCs, compared with 158 MVCs for Hispanics. Whites were

involved in ten fatal MVCs, compared with seven fatal MVCs involving Hispanics.

The percent of fatal MVCs for whites was 0.3%, or 10 deaths per 2,689 MVCs. In

contrast, the percent of fatal MVCs for Hispanics was 4.4%, or 7 deaths per 158

MVCs; odds ratio (OR) = 12.4, 95% CI = 4.7 to 33.1. The 2000 Census Report for

Pitt County noted a white population of 81,613 and a Hispanic population of

4,216. Based on these population data, the death rate for MVCs per 100,000

population was 12.3 for whites versus 166.0 for Hispanics, OR = 13.6, 95% CI =

5.2 to 35.6. Although the cause for this disparity was not determined, previous

studies suggest that alcohol and decreased seatbelt usage are contributing

factors. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the death rates among Hispanics for rural

MVCs were significantly higher than for whites. The causes of this disparity are

not clear but are important to define. Only by understanding this disparity can

we begin to develop appropriate interventions that may prevent these

deaths.