Work

The burden and trends of road injuries in Afghanistan (1990–2021): A joinpoint analysis of data from the global burden of diseases, 2021 study

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Objective: Road injuries pose a major public health challenge, particularly in low-income, conflict-affected regions like Afghanistan. Despite issues like poor infrastructure and weak traffic regulations, no national study has assessed the road injury burden. This study examines Afghanistan's road injury burden from 1990 to 2021. Method: < 0.05). Results: Between 1990 and 2021, Afghanistan's road injury burden declined across all indicators (ASMR: -1.2 %, ASDR, YLL, YLD). Males (1.2 %) and children (AAPC: -3.1 %) saw the steepest declines, while the elderly (-0.7 %) had the slowest. Motor vehicle injuries dropped most (1.3 %), followed by pedestrian (1.0 %) and motorcyclist (0.9 %) injuries.Period-specific trends showed fluctuations: ASMR, ASDR, and YLL rose (1990-1997), then declined, except YLD, which increased post-2018 (+0.5 %). From 2017 to 2021, YLD rose across all age groups (except 0-14 years). Post-2014, motorcycle-related ASMR increased (+0.3 % APC), while from 2017 to 2021, ASDR and YLD increased across all injury types (+0.4 % to +1.3 % APC). Conclusion: Despite progress, rising DALYs and YLDs, especially from 2017 onward, highlight a growing disability road injury burden, necessitating targeted interventions to address long-term disability and mitigate its public health impact.

Source: Preventive Medicine Reports

DOI: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2025.103061

Author: Najeebullah Faizi

Institutions: Central South University, Kabul University of Medical Sciences Abu Ali Ibn Sina

Language: English

Topic: Traffic and Road Safety

Subfield: Safety, Risk, Reliability and Quality

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Industry, innovation and infrastructure, Sustainable cities and communities

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,610