Motorcycle injuries in a developing country and the vulnerability of riders, passengers, and pedestrians (original) (raw)
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The use of crash helmets among commercial motorcycle riders in Ogbomoso, South-West, Nigeria
Despite the fact that the incidence and prevalence of road traffic crashes especially involving the motorcyclists in this environment have continued to increase, with attendant complications like head injuries, majority of our motorcyclists have remained without their helmets while driving. This study was carried out to determine the use of crash helmets among motorcycle riders and their passengers in Ogbomoso. This was a community based cross sectional study carried out among commercial motorcyclists in Ogbomoso, in Southwest Nigeria. The instrument used in collecting data was a semi-structured interviewer administered questionnaire. A total of 111 male commercial motorcyclists were recruited for the study. Data was analyzed using Stata 12 statistical software. About 62 (56%) of the participants had been involved in road traffic crashes since they started to ride motorcycle. Even though 100 (90.1%) participants claimed to have the crash helmets, only 29 (29%) regularly wore the crash helmets. Also, out of the 111 participants, only 16 (14.4%) had crash helmets for their passengers and only 1(6.2%) regularly made the helmets available for his passengers. Again, 78 participants had attended lectures on road safety but as noted above only 30 respondents regularly wore their crash helmets. The level of education of the respondents was not found to have any association with the use of crash helmets in this study. There is an urgent need to educate the public and enforce the law of universal helmet use so that all motorcyclists and passengers are protected from possible head injuries should they be involved in crashes.
Tanzania Journal of Health Research, 2014
Motorcycle helmets have been reported to reduce the risk of death and head injuries following motorcycle accidents. The aim of this descriptive prospective study was to determine the injury outcome among helmeted and non-helmeted motorcyclists and passengers at a tertiary hospital in north-western Tanzania. A total of 654 patients involved in the motorcycle accident were studied. Of these, 468 (71.6%) were motorcyclists (riders) and the remaining 186 (28.4%) were passengers. The median age of patients at presentation was 26 years. Male outnumbered females by a ratio of 4.5: 1.
African Health Sciences, 2015
Background: Trauma is an increasingly important cause of disease globally. Half of this trauma is from road traffic injuries with motorcycles contributing 21-58%. Low protective gear use, lack of regulation and weak traffic law enforcement contribute to unsafe nature of commercial motorcycles also known as "boda boda" in Uganda. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of protective gear use, the occurrence of head injury and the relationship between the two among commercial motorcycle riders in Kampala. Methods: Following ethical approval we recruited consecutive consenting participants to this analytical cross-sectional study. Data was collected using pretested interviewer administered questionnaires, double entered in Epidata and analyzed with STATA. Proportions and means were used to summarize data. Odds ratios were calculated for association between wearing helmets and occurrence and severity of head injury. Results: All 328 participants recruited were male. Of these, 18.6% used Protective gear and 71.1 % sustained head injury. Helmets protected users from head injury (OR 0.43, 95% CI, 0.23-0.8) and significantly reduced its severity when it occurred. Conclusion: Protective gear use was low, with high occurrence of head injury among commercial motorcycle riders in Uganda. More effective strategies are needed to promote protective gear use among Uganda's commercial motorcycle riders.
Indian Journal of Neurotrauma
Background Road traffic accident (RTA) is the eighth leading cause of death worldwide. Motorcycle-associated head injury is the leading cause of road traffic associated morbidity and mortality in developing countries. Even though the incidence and mortality of head injury from motor cycle crash is on the increase in developing countries, especially in the African continent, most of the studies published in the literature on this subject matter took place in the developed Western countries. Methods This is a retrospective cross-sectional study of data from patients managed in our institution between December 2014 and November 2016. Results One hundred and eighty-four patients were analyzed. None of the patients used safety helmet for protection. The mean age was 27.6 ± 17.2 years with male female ratio of 6.7:1. Lone crash by cyclists and collisions accounted for 66.8% and 33.1% of the cases, respectively. Passengers and riders comprised 75% of the patients, while 25% were vulnerable...
Usage of Crash Helmet Among Commercial Motorcyclists in Ilorin, Nigeria
2019
This study examined usage of helmet among commercial motorcyclists in Ilorin, Nigeria. Simple random sampling was used to select 120 motorcyclists, who were surveyed with a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, including percentages and mean scores were used to analyse the data. Results showed that only 14.2% of the riders fully abide with the helmet law. High mean scores of 3.81 and 3.32 for ‘helmet usage is important’ and ‘helmet prevents head injury’ respectively, however showed that most riders are aware of the protective role of crash helmets. It is recommended that there should be stricter enforcement of the helmet law.
Pan African Medical Journal, 2014
Introduction: motorcycle users involved in crashes are likely to die or be severely injured due to high frequency of head, chest and leg injuries. We carried out a descriptive cross sectional study to determine crash characteristics and injury patterns among motorcycle users attending Kitale district hospital, Kenya. Methods: motorcycle trauma patients were recruited between 1 st August 2013 and 31 st October 2013. Data collection was done using a pre-tested, coded questionnaire. Frequencies mean (SD) and chi-square was employed in the analysis. Analysis was done using SPSS V.20. Results were considered significant at α=0.05. Results: motorcycle trauma patients formed 39.4% of all road traffic injuries. Males constituted 69.8%, females 30.2% and mean age was 30(±13) years. Riders accounted for majority of injury patients (45%), passengers (38.8%) and pedestrians (15.9%). Mechanism of motorcycle crash was involving motorcycle versus vehicle (45.6%). Riders suffered severe injuries compared to passengers (χ 2 =129.936, p<0.001). Head injury patients were assessed as having Glasgow coma scale (GCS) of 70% 9-12, 26% GCS of 13-15 and 7% GCS of 3-8. Injuries sustained by victims included head and neck injury 40%, lower extremity injury 39.9% and chest injury 8.2%. Riders without helmets during the crash sustained head injuries (χ 2 =111.352, p<0.001). Conclusion: head injuries and lower extremity injuries accounted for the major proportion of injuries sustained by motorcycle users. Non helmet use was associated with increased risk of head injuries. Morbidity can be mitigated by encouraging use of protective gear like helmets.
Journal of Quality in Health Care & Economics
Motorcycle accidents contribute significantly to the number of road traffic accidents (RTAs) in many cities in Northern Western Nigeria. This study was carried out to determine the prevalence and pattern of RTAs among commercial motorcyclists in Sokoto metropolis Nigeria. A descriptive, cross sectional study was carried out among commercial motorcyclist's riders in 2014 in Sokoto metropolis Nigeria. The instrument of data collection was a semi-structured interviewer administered questionnaire. Data was analysed using SPSS version 20.0. A total of 307 male commercial motorcyclists participated in the study, out of which 194 (63.2%) had been involved in RTAs since they started riding. Seventy two percent (72%) attributed the last accident to Motor vehicle hit/Obstruction, Almost all were not wearing helmets when the accident occurred and sustained different form of injuries during the accident, out of which majority (37%) had Motorcycle-Motorcycle collision, lower limb was the part mostly affected 33.5% and bruises were the commonest injuries sustained.
Introduction: motorcycle users involved in crashes are likely to die or be severely injured due to high frequency of head, chest and leg injuries. We carried out a descriptive cross sectional study to determine crash characteristics and injury patterns among motorcycle users attending Kitale district hospital, Kenya. Methods: motorcycle trauma patients were recruited between 1st August 2013 and 31stOctober 2013. Data collection was done using a pre-tested, coded questionnaire. Frequencies mean (SD) and chi-square was employed in the analysis. Analysis was done using SPSS V.20. Results were considered significant at α=0.05. Results: motorcycle trauma patients formed 39.4% of all road traffic injuries. Males constituted 69.8%, females 30.2% and mean age was 30(±13) years. Riders accounted for majority of injury patients (45%), passengers (38.8%) and pedestrians (15.9%). Mechanism of motorcycle crash was involving motorcycle versus vehicle (45.6%). Riders suffered severe injuries compared to passengers (χ2=129.936, p<0.001). Head injury patients were assessed as having Glasgow coma scale (GCS) of 70% 9-12, 26% GCS of 13-15 and 7% GCS of 3-8. Injuries sustained by victims included head and neck injury 40%, lower extremity injury 39.9% and chest injury 8.2%. Riders without helmets during the crash sustained head injuries (χ2=111.352, p<0.001). Conclusion: head injuries and lower extremity injuries accounted for the major proportion of injuries sustained by motorcycle users. Non helmet use was associated with increased risk of head injuries. Morbidity can be mitigated by encouraging use of protective gear like helmets
Motorcycle extremity injuries in South-East Nigeria: A multicenter study
Nigerian Journal of Medicine, 2020
IntRoductIon Motorcycle injuries are an important component of morbidity associated with road traffic injuries, a neglected epidemic in developing countries. [1] Motorcycle, a two-wheeled motorized vehicle, known as Okada in Nigeria local parlance is a popular mode of transport in developing countries despite the high prevalence of road traffic injuries and the myriad of challenges associated with its use. [2] Previously published reports indicate a high vulnerability of motorcycle riders and passengers as well as pedestrians to motorcycle-related road traffic injuries of varying degrees of severity. [2,3] These reports also indicate that the extremities are the most vulnerable anatomical region of the body involved in motorcycle injuries. [2-6] In addition, extremity injury is the most important cause of morbidity and prolonged length of hospital stay among patients with motorcycle injury. [7] This entails a significant economic and financial cost that also compounds the injury burden in low-and middle-income countries. [8] Motorcycles are open vehicles without any restraining safety device. Thus, in the event of a collision, the occupants are usually thrown off the vehicle and more often than not sustain injury from the impact with the ground. Fall from a motorcycle in transit or prior to a crash, direct impact with another vehicle during a collision, entrapment of the extremities in motorcycle wheel spokes, and burns from exhaust pipes are other mechanisms of injury to the occupants. [4,5,9] A pedestrian hit by a motorcycle is also at risk of extremity injuries as a result of the collision. Motorcycle extremity injury ranging from minor to limb or life-threatening ones may occur as an isolated Background: Motorcycle extremity injuries are an important public health concern in developing countries though under-reported. This study aimed to determine the pattern of motorcycle extremity injuries and identify the potential areas to facilitate preventive strategies and improved outcomes. Patients and Methods: This was a prospective study of all the patients with motorcycle injuries that visited emergency rooms of three Nigerian tertiary hospitals from February 1, 2015, to July 31, 2016. Results: Of the 587 patients with motorcycle injuries, 393 (67%) of them sustained extremity injuries. The male: female ratio was 2.3:1; the age range was 1.25-80 years with a mean of 30 ± 14 years. Motorcycle collisions with motor vehicles were the topmost mechanism of injury. The lower extremity was the most common site involved. Fractures, abrasions and lacerations were the three top injuries sustained. One hundred and seventeen (29.8%) of them were multiply injured patients. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) (23.7%) was the most common associated injury. None of the victims wore a crash helmet or extremity protective gear at the time of injury. The mean injury-hospital arrival interval was 84 h and delayed presentation to the hospital correlated with the presence of extremity fractures. The mortality rate was 2%, and TBI was involved in 87.5% of the mortalities. Conclusion: In this study, extremity injury is an important component of injury associated with motorcycle road traffic accidents. This calls for preventive strategies based on the observed pattern, and the use of extremity protective gear by motorcyclist
The Pan African medical journal, 2018
Introduction: Injury from motorcycle is a considerable cause of deaths and disability in the world. It is becoming one of the most serious public health problems, not only in developed countries but more in low and middle-income countries. Methods: Descriptive cross sectional study for patients who sustained head injuries related to motorcycle crashes between March 2017 and March 2018. Participant bio data, injury history and neurological examination findings were collected using pretested interviewer administered questionnaires. Frequencies, Mean (SD) and chi-square was employed in the analysis. Results were considered significant at p<0.05. Results: A total of 341 motorcycle crash injury patients participated in the study. One hundred and forty three (42%), sustained head injuries while 198 (58%) sustained other types of injury. In regard to safety helmets, 94 (28%) wore helmets at the time of crash. One hundred and forty three (42%), of the respondents without helmets at the time of crash sustained head injuries. Riders and passengers who wore helmets at the time of motorcycle crash, suffered less frequent head injuries compared to those who did not wear helmets and this was statistically significant (χ2=55.78, P<0.00). Non use of safety helmet during crash was associated with sustaining mild to severe head injury. Most of the crashes 165 (48.3%), occurred as a result of collision between motorcycles versus vehicle. Majority of the crashes occurred in the afternoon hours 174 (51%). The days of the week recording the highest number of injuries were Friday (16.1%) and Monday (15.8%). The day of Involvement in motorcycle crash during the week was not significantly associated with head injury (χ2=13.103, p=0.785). Conclusion: Majority of motorcycle crash injury victims sustained head injury. Few of the victims used safety helmets at the time of the motorcycle crash. Use of helmets was protective of sustaining mild to severe head injuries among crash injury victims.