Epidemiological Aspects of Road Accidents in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Countries from 1990 to 2019

Background: Road accidents are a major public health concern globally and are expected to become the fifth leading cause of death worldwide by 2030. Objectives: This study aimed to compare the consequences of road accidents in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region by analyzing data from 21 countries and approximately 400 million people Methods: The data used was from the Global Burden of Diseases (GBD) in 2019, which defines traffic accidents as deaths resulting from external injury causes based on the international classification of diseases (ICD). Results: Road traffic injuries (RTIs) in the MENA region have decreased from 1990 to 2019. Motor vehicles have the highest death rate from RTIs at 15.32 per 100,000, followed by pedestrians at 8.37 per 100,000, motorcyclists at 2.16 per 100,000, and cyclists at 0.35 per 100,000. Saudi Arabia (46.7 per 100,000) and Oman (25.5 per 100,000) have the highest death rates for motor vehicle-related road injuries, while Oman (17.7 per 100,000) and Yemen (12.95 per 100,000) have the highest rates for pedestrian-related road injuries. Conclusions: Given the significant impact of road accidents in the countries of the region, it is crucial to address this issue through various measures. These should include training initiatives, preventive measures, and a review of traffic laws and regulations.