Motor-vehicle crash fatalities among American Indians and non-Indians in Arizona, 1979 through 1988

Am J Public Health. 1997 Feb;87(2):282-5. doi: 10.2105/ajph.87.2.282.

Abstract

Objectives: This study evaluated the contributions of rural residence, alcohol use, and pedestrian fatalities to the high American Indian motor-vehicle crash mortality rate in Arizona.

Methods: Records from the Fatal Accident Reporting System were used to examine mortality rates between 1979 and 1988.

Results: American Indians had increased relative risks in all motor-vehicle crash categories in all residence-gender groups. The percentage of excess mortality associated with alcohol varied from 36.8% to 66.7%, and the percentage associated with pedestrian deaths ranged from 27.2% to 55.4%.

Conclusions: Efforts to reduce excess motor-vehicle crash mortality among American Indians should concentrate on preventing pedestrian and alcohol-related fatalities.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Accidents, Traffic / mortality*
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Distribution
  • Aged
  • Alcohol Drinking / adverse effects
  • Alcohol Drinking / blood
  • Arizona / epidemiology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Ethnicity
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Indians, North American*
  • Middle Aged
  • Risk Factors
  • Sex Factors