Road traffic deaths in the province of Buenos Aires in 2017: a hierarchical cluster analysis

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Road traffic injuries and deaths are a major public health concern. The aim of this work was to analyze, from a
multivariate perspective, oficial data on fatal victims of road traffic in Buenos Aires, Argentina First, we built a typology of road traffic accidents, and second, we analyze the clusters distribution in different areas of the province. METHOD: A non- experimental, correlational and cross-sectional study was carried out. An empirical classification of road deaths was generated  by means of Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (official data registered by the Road Safety Observatory; original n = 1369, n after data refinement = 1154). The resulting clusters were then analyzed by health district areas. RESULTS: The results suggested eight  relatively homogeneous groups of victims with differentiable accident profiles. The most important clusters were two: one  corresponding to young male motorcycle riders who died in urban traffic crashes, and another characterized by adult male automobile drivers who died in inter-urban traffic crashes. The groups were distributed differently according to the health  district area, although there were two major profiles: one corresponding to Greater Buenos Aires and the other to the rest of Buenos Aires province. DISCUSSION: Results offer a useful base for interventions targeting specific road users.