MANAGING POST- ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENT FATALITIES IN OSUN STATE, NIGERIA.

Abstract

This study examines the management of post road traffic accident fatalities in Osun State between 2001 and 2015. The specific objectives of study include an evaluation of the magnitude of level of road traffic accident fatality handled in the two tertiary hospitals and the state specialist hospital within the period specified. It also provides an insight to the magnitude of road traffic occurrence in the state with reference to the rank of the state among the other group of States of the Federation numbering 36 with the Federal Capital making 37. The methodology involved the deployment of quantitative techniques involving the use of secondary data that were descriptively analysed using graphs and tabular presentation coupled with other nonparametric analytical method. The study examined the parameters deployed by the Federal Road Safety Commission’s (FRSC) and National Emergency Commission in the management and prevention of accident and more importantly fatality reduction. The result reflected that there is significant variation in the number of accident victims over the period with the male victims taken the lion share with 55%. The level of fatality among the victims is relatively low with just 2%, This is further confirmed with the relatively low level of fatality with given the high level of minor injuries sustained by generality victims with a high magnitude of 81.4% of the total casualty. The research reflected that the state of Osun ranked 8th in the group of States of the federation with other 36 states. The research reflected the need for improving the lapses in the hospitals regarding the management of accident fatalities. There is need for adequate equipment in the handling of accident victims in the hospital as a strategy to guarantee their absolute preparedness in handling accident emergency cases.