Background
The objective of the study was to report the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) following road traffic accidents (RTAs) among children.
Methods
A community-based survey using EuroQol five-dimension questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L) in Hindi was used to collected data from community. The survey included 2620 households from urban and rural areas of Ujjain, India.
Results
From the 2620 households included in the study, 229 children aged 5–18 years with a history of RTA in the last 1 year were identified, with 27%, 63%, and 10% children reporting mild, moderate, and severe injury based on length of hospitalization. Motorcycles, bicycles, and pedestrians constituted most RTAs. Helmet use was low (12%). EQ-5D-5L revealed that the most severe and extreme problem post RTA in children was pain and discomfort, whereas the least severe problem was usual activity and self-care. The most common (65%) injuries were either abrasion or fracture and dislocation. EQ-5D-5L severity index was maximum (mean 72) for lower extremity injuries.
Conclusions
The results of the present study highlight the ability and requirement for quality-of-life measurement using EQ-5D-5L among children post-RTA.