PW 2179 Alohol consumption and mototcycle accidents during songkran festival in 2010–2016

Objective The number of motorcyclist is increasing every year, number of accident is also increasing and which alcohol is a critical risk factor. For this study is to document prevalence of alcohol consumption and its relationship with motorcycle accidents among Emergency Room (ER) injury patients during Songkran festival in Thailand. Methods A cross-sectional study of traffic accidents case at 12 hospitals were a member of the national injury surveillance network was conducted 7 days during Songkran festival (Songkran or Thai Tradition New Year) since 2010 until 2016. All injured patients that were representative of the patients who delivered to ER for treatment during the study period were approached for interview. Summary statistics were described and multiple logistic regression was applied to determine associations between alcohol consumption and motorcycle crash characteristic. Results Off total 18 166 patients were treated to the Emergency Room. There were 7732 injured from road traffic accidents and 5835 (78%) patients were classified into motorcycle accidents. 33% reported that they drank alcohol within 24 hours before the motorcycle crash and more than 50% were under 20 years and 20–29 years old were alcohol drinkers. The study demonstrated the patients who aged 20–29 years, had 1.4 times more likely to undergone alcohol-related injuries than those who aged below 20 (OR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.0 to 1.8) and Driver who motorcycle patients were more likely to alcohol-related injury than passengers/pedestrian (OR=1.5; 95% CI 1.3 to 1.9). Conclusion The study findings indicate that alcohol is significantly associated with teenage and early adulthood motorcyclist and more prevalent in festival period. Therefore, law enforcement should effectively implement in order to reduce alcohol-related problems during festival period.