Risk factors for road traffic injury among adolescents in Brazil: National Adolescent School-based Health Survey (PeNSE)

Road traffic injuries are the cause of an expressive number of deaths and hospitalizations among young people in the world. In Brazil, it is responsible for 17.1% of all deaths among adolescents aged 10 to 14 years. This article presents the results of the National Adolescent School-based Health Survey (PeNSE), using a probabilistic sample of students in the 9th grade of high schools (public and private) of the Brazilian capitals in 2009. The prevalence (and 95%CI) of risk factors for road traffic injury among adolescents were estimated. Main results from the 60,973 interviews were: in the last 30 days, 26.3% (25.5% to 27.0% 95%CI) reported no use of seat-belts while riding in a moving vehicle; 18.5% (18.0% to 19.1% 95%CI) of youths younger than 18 years reported driving a motor vehicle (> once); 18.7% (18.1% a 19.2% 95%CI) reported a history of being driven by a driver who had been drinking (> once); and 35.0% (33.8% to 36.2% 95%CI) reported no use of helmets while riding a motorcycle (> once). The results are in accordance with the high rates of morbidity and mortality from traffic injury among youths, reinforcing the need of integrated intersectoral actions, specific legal measures and strict control.

Road traffic injuries; Child; Adolescent; Health school; Adolescent behavior