Abstract
Background. Road Traffic Injuries (RTIs) are the leading cause of injury-related deaths and hospitalizations among pregnant women. This study aimed to review the epidemiology of RTIs in this demographic
Methods. This study was conducted as a systematic review and meta-analysis. A comprehensive search of major databases was performed to identify observational studies on road traffic injuries during pregnancy. The screening and data extraction were carried out independently by 2 reviewers based on pre-defined criteria. A random-effects model was used to analyze the quantitative data in STATA version 16.
Results. Key findings revealed that approximately 30% of RTIs occur in the first trimester, 30% in the second, and 40% in the third trimester. The rate of RTIs was estimated to be 2.1 per 1000 maternities (95% CI: 0.1–4.1), with frontal crashes being the most common (50.3%). The majority of he pregnant women involved were drivers (57%), and seat belt use was reported in 77.4% of cases, with 43.9% experiencing airbag deployment. Notably, around 14.2% of RTIs were classified as severe.
Conclusion. It can be concluded that the high rate of RTIs during pregnancy leads to numerous adverse maternal and fetal consequences, highlighting a critical need for public health intervention.
Practical Implications. Road safety interventions should be specifically tailored for pregnant women, emphasizing correct seat belt use and reduced driving exposure, to mitigate the high risk of severe maternal and fetal outcomes from traffic injuries.