Profiles of pregnant women encountering motor vehicle crashes in Taiwan, 2008–2017

Chang, Ya-Hui; Chien, Yu-Wen; Chang, Chiung-Hsin; Chen, Ping-Ling; Lu, Tsung-Hsueh; Chiu, Chang-Ta; Li, Chung-Yi · 2023 · DOAJ

DOI: 10.1186/s40621-023-00478-x

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Summary

This study addresses a gap in existing literature regarding motor vehicle crashes (MVCs) involving pregnant women in Asian countries, where data has been scarce compared to Western studies. The research aimed to describe the demographic profiles, prevalence, and characteristics of MVCs among pregnant women in Taiwan between 2008 and 2017. Understanding these profiles is critical for assessing the health burden imposed by traffic collisions on maternal and fetal well-being and for informing targeted prevention strategies. The researchers conducted a nationwide cross-sectional study by linking the Taiwan Birth Notification dataset with the police-reported traffic collision registry. The study population comprised 1,961,205 mothers who gave birth during the study period. Data were linked using encrypted personal identification numbers to identify pregnant women involved in MVCs. The analysis categorized incidents by maternal age, gestational age (trimester), role of road user (driver, passenger, or pedestrian), and vehicle type (car, two-wheeled motor vehicle, or others). Statistical analyses, including chi-square tests, were performed to examine distributions across demographic and geographic variables, such as urbanization levels and regional residence. The results indicated that 22,134 MVCs occurred among 21,875 pregnant women, representing a prevalence of 1.13%. Two-wheeled motor vehicles were the most common vehicle type involved (47.9%), followed by cars (33.1%). The majority of victims were drivers (81.4%). MVC prevalence was highest among women aged 18–24 (1.79%) and those residing in rural or eastern regions. Over the study decade, the prevalence of MVCs increased significantly, nearly doubling from 0.8% in 2008–2009 to 1.4% in 2016–2017. While crash rates were relatively consistent across trimesters, the number of MVCs dropped sharply after 37 weeks of gestation. However, the proportion of pedestrian victims increased notably in the third trimester (40.8%), whereas two-wheeled motor vehicle crashes declined as pregnancy progressed. The findings highlight that pregnant women remain susceptible to MVCs throughout pregnancy, with specific risks varying by age, vehicle type, and gestational stage. The high prevalence among young women and those in rural areas suggests a need for targeted interventions, such as improving road safety infrastructure and promoting awareness. The increase in pedestrian crashes during the third trimester underscores the importance of enhancing pedestrian safety near healthcare facilities. The study concludes that comprehensive traffic safety measures, including better sidewalk design and speed control near clinics, are essential to reduce maternal injury risks.

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• vru crash typology