Outcome of alcohol breath analysis among road traffic accident victims: Experience from a southwestern Nigerian teaching hospital
Outcome of alcohol breath analysis
Keywords:
alcohol, breath analysis, Nigeria, road traffic accident, road traffic accident victimsAbstract
Background: Road traffic accident (RTA) is a common occurrence globally, and much of the injury burden worldwide results from RTAs. Alcohol is estimated to be a factor in 20-30% of all RTAs. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of alcohol use by breath analysis among the RTA victims and the factors that are associated with its usage.
Methods: It was a hospital-based descriptive cross-sectional study that involved a total of 300 participants. The respondents were recruited over a period of 11 months based on their consecutive arrival at the Accident and Emergency Department of the Bowen University Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso. The study included consenting RTA victims aged 18 years and above, that presented at the Accident and Emergency Department of the hospital within six hours of sustaining their injuries. The severely injured patients who were unconscious and other victims of RTA that could not breathalyse were excluded from the study. The respondents had alcohol breath test conducted using a validated and calibrated handheld fuel cell sensor technology breathalyser (BACTRACK Select S80 Professional Alcohol Breathalyser). Subsequently, a pre-tested, and structured questionnaire was administered to each participant by the trained attending doctors. Descriptive statistics, binary and multivariable logistic regression models were used to determine the magnitude and predictors of positive alcohol breath test result.
Results: A total of 300 respondents (124 drivers/riders, 147 passengers, and 29 pedestrians) participated in the study; 221 (73.7%) were men; 44.3% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 38.7 – 50.0%) of the participants had positive alcohol breath test results; about three-quarters (73.4%) of the drivers and riders tested positive to alcohol breath analysis; and none of the drivers and riders was tested for alcohol by the law enforcement agent(s) on the day of their accident. Ethnic group was the most important (AOR: 37.1, 95% CI [1.7 - 816.0]) among the factors associated with positive alcohol breath test. The others were the average monthly income in Naira (AOR: 11.5, 95% CI [2.3 - 57.3]), the category of road user (AOR: 4.2, 95% CI [1.4 - 11.9]), religion (AOR: 2.9, 95% CI [1.4 - 6.1]), and sex of the participants (AOR: 2.7, 95% CI [1.2 - 6.3]).
Conclusion: It is imperative to reiterate the importance of the enforcement of breath testing of drivers and riders randomly stopped at sobriety checkpoints, as well as drivers and riders flagged down for exhibiting driving behaviours that are indicative of driver impairment by the various agencies of the government saddled with the responsibility.