Accidental deaths have increased and become a leading cause of deaths while infectious disease declined significantly due to an improvement in economic situation, living standard and medicine.
To identify the trends in accidental deaths for the years from 1983 to 1990,´ death data by year, sex and age group from annual reports on the cause of death statistics based on vital registration were analyzed.
The major findings of the study are as follows:
1. The four leading causes of death for 1983 through 1990 have been the same, but the proportion of deaths has varied: the 2nd leading cause of death, cancer and the 3rd, accidents have increased 1.6 times above the rate over time. The death ratio of accidents to infectious disease has changed significantly from 0.1 (1960) to 5.4 (1990) indicating accidents´, claim more lives than all other causes, based on the criteria of frequency and prevention possibility.
2. Accidental deaths are the leading cause of death for persons under 30 years of age.
3. The accidental death for males are about 3 times more than for females, and the highest rate was for persons 15-24 years old by 1985, but for the aged 25-34 after 1985.
4. The accidental death rates are highest in Korea comparing with other countries: motor-ve hide accidents are 39.7, 3 times more than in U.S. A (12.9) and 4.2 of drowning.
5. Motor-vehicle deaths among accidental deaths have increased, a change that is consistent with the general upward pattern: increase of 20.0%(1983) to 46.9%(1990). The death rate has sharply increased 3 times from 13.6 to 39.7 for 1990 over 1984. 6. The larger percentage in increase death than in vehicle registrations and population.
7. Ninety-one percent of the cause of motor vehicle deaths is traffic violation 1984-1989, indicating the increase of unsafely driving.
8. In 1989, 1,285 deaths were wearing seatbelts while 6,869 deaths without seatbelts among 12.603 motor-vehicle deaths.
The researcher drew the following conclusions
Accidental deaths result in the loss of more working years of life than other disease. Thus it is principal public health problem in Korea. Yet, because it receives scant attention, this study will assist in setting priorities to prevent problems in these areas: prevention strategies, to alter their behavior for increased self-protection.
Therefore, safety education should be included in school-health education curriculum to save the enormous loss of life.
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