Prevalence and factors associated with driving under the influence of alcohol in Brazil

OBJECTIVES

To estimate the prevalence and factors associated with Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol (DUIA) among car drivers and motorcyclists in Brazil and to evaluate the association between DUIA and self-reported Road Traffic Injuries (RTIs) in these groups.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted using data from adults aged 18 or older who participated in the 2019 National Health Survey. Probability sampling was used to recruit participants, and data collection was carried out through home visits. Data from 31,246 car drivers and 21,896 motorcyclists were analyzed. Key indicators included the proportion (%) of car drivers who consumed alcohol and then drove in the past 12 months and the proportion (%) of motorcyclists who consumed alcohol and then drove in the past 12 months. Multiple Poisson regression was used to determine factors associated with DUIA and the association of this variable with RTIs in both groups.

RESULTS

DUIA prevalence was 9.4% (95% Confidence Interval [95% CI] = 8.8-10.0) among car drivers and 11.2% (95% CI = 10.4-12.1) among motorcyclists. Among car drivers, DUIA prevalence was higher in men, young adults, those without a spouse/partner, and lower in individuals with lower income and education level. Among motorcyclists, DUIA prevalence was higher in men, young adults, those living outside the capitals and metropolitan regions, and lower in individuals with lower income. DUIA increased the prevalence of self-reported RTIs in the previous 12 months among car drivers and motorcyclists.

CONCLUSIONS

A high prevalence of DUIA was evident among drivers, particularly motorcyclists. The DUIA was more prevalent among men and young adults. The DUIA was associated with an increased magnitude of self-reported RTIs among car drivers and motorcyclists. Despite the extensive legislation for zero tolerance toward DUIA in the country, actions need stricter enforcement.

Magnitude and factors associated with motor road traffic injuries in Brazil: Results from the National Health Survey, 2019

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the magnitude and factors associated with self-reported road traffic injuries (RTI) in Brazil.

METHODS

Cross-sectional study conducted using data from individuals aged 18 years or older, participants in the 2019 National Health Survey, a population-based conducted on 88,531 adult individuals in Brazil. Three indicators were analyzed: (i) Proportion (%) of individuals aged 18 years or older who were involved in RTI in the past 12 months; (ii) Proportion (%) of car drivers who were involved in RTI in the past 12 months; and (iii), Proportion (%) of motorcycle drivers who were involved in RTI in the past 12 months. In the inferential analysis, multiple Poisson regression was used to analyze the association between demographic and socioeconomic variables and RTI, stratified for the general population, population of car and motorcycle drivers.

RESULTS

The estimated prevalence of self-reported RTI in the past 12 months was 2.4%. The South, Southeast, Northeast, Central-West, and North regions of Brazil had prevalences of 2.0%, 2.1%, 2.7%, 3.2%, and 3.4%, respectively. The results also show that most developed regions (South and Southeast) showed the lowest prevalence's, the highest frequencies were observed in those with lower socioeconomic development levels (Central-West, North, and Northeast). The prevalence was also higher in the subgroup of motorcyclists when compared to car drivers. In the general sample, the Poisson model showed an association between male sex, younger age, low level of education, residing outside capitals and metropolitan regions, in the North, Northeast and South regions and the prevalence of RTI. In car drivers, similar associations were found, except for area of residence. In motorcycle drivers, young age, low level of education, living in urban areas were associated with increased prevalence of RTI.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of RTI is still high within the country, with disparities between regions, affecting more motorcyclists, young people, males, individuals with low education, and residents of the countryside.