Mortality due to motor-vehicle traffic accidents in Mexico City, 1990-2015

Objective: To analyze the trend of mortality rates due to motor-vehicle traffic accidents (ATVM) in Mexico City between 1990 and 2015, by sex, age and mayoralty. Material and methods: Cross-sectional study with information on mortality vital statistics from the National Geography and Statistics Institute. We calculated the central mortality standardized rates due to ATVM using the direct method and the state population of 2015 as standard. The trend of the mortality rates was estimated using a joinpoint regression analysis. Results: Mortality due ATVM decreased in Mexico City during the last 25 years going from a level of 24 deaths per 100000 inhabitants in 1990 to 8,4 in 2015. This reduction was observed in all mayoralties of Mexico City. We observed a higher mortality in men with ample differences in the mortality rates by sex: in 1990 the male mortality rate was 37,7 and the female was 11,8 per 100000; meanwhile, in 2015 the rates were 13,2 and 4,2 per 100000 for males and females respectively. The mayoralties with the highest mortality were Miguel Hidalgo, Venustiano Carranza and Benito Juarez that make the central area of the city. The mayoralties with the lowest descend were Iztacalco and Xochimilco. Conclusions: Mortality from ATVM in Mexico City has been significantly reduced, which is possibly due to changes in traffic regulations and the implemented programs and measures aimed to enforce it.