Motorcycle injuries as an emerging public health problem in Mwanza city, Tanzania: A call for urgent intervention (original) (raw)
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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.
Injury Prevention, 2006
At a Nigerian university hospital, none of the motorcyclists who presented over a 12 month period had been wearing a helmet, and of the eight patients who died, seven had head injuries. Of the five collision types described, the rate of motorcycle-other vehicle collisions was highest at 40.6%, while the motorcycle-pedestrian rate was 23.4%. Measures to prevent these collisions might reduce overall crashes by 64%; in addition, helmet law should be enforced.
The epidemiology and prehospital care of motorcycle crashes in a sub-Saharan African urban center
Traffic Injury Prevention, 2020
Objective: Road traffic crashes (RTCs) are common amongst motorcyclists in Kigali, Rwanda. The Service d'Aide Medicale Urgente (SAMU), a prehospital ambulance service, responds to many of these crashes. We aimed to describe motorcycle related RTCs managed by SAMU. Methods: SAMU clinical data including demographic information, injury characteristics, and management details were analyzed descriptively for all motorcycle crashes occurring between December 2012 to July 2016. Results: There were 2,912 motorcycle related RTCs over the study period representing 26% of all patients managed by SAMU. The incidence of motorcycle crashes in Kigali was 258 crashes per 100,000 people over the 3.5-year study period. The average age was 30 years and 80% were males. The most common injuries were to the lower extremity (n=958, 33%), head (n=878, 30%), or upper extremity (n=453,16%). Injuries often resulted in fractures of extremities (n=740, 25%) and external hemorrhage anywhere in the body (unspecified region) (n=660, 23%), yet few were severe based on the Kampala Trauma Score (n=23, 2%) and Glasgow Coma Scale (n=42, 1.5%). The most common interventions were provision of Diclofenac (n=1526, 52.5%), peripheral IV access (n=1217, 42%), and administration of IV fluids (n=1048, 36%). Conclusion: Motorcycle related RTCs represent a large burden of disease for patients treated by SAMU in Kigali, Rwanda. Young men are most at risk of injury which imposes a financial strain
Injury patterns among commercial motorcycle users attending Kitale level IV district hospital, Kenya
The rise in the use of commercial motorcycles in Kenya has been associated with increased injury rates. Between 2004 and 2009, motorcycle injuries increased at a rate of 29 %. In some hospitals, commercial motorcycle users have become the predominant road user category injured. We carried out a descriptive cross sectional study to determine the socio demographic characteristics, injury patterns and mechanism leading to commercial motorcycle crash injuries at Kitale district hospital. 371 Commercial motorcycle trauma patients were recruited consecutively between 1 st August 2013 and 31 st October 2013. The data captured included demographics; injury patterns, mechanism of injury, helmet use and Glasgow coma scale. Data collection was done using a pre-tested, coded questionnaire. Frequencies, mean and chi-square was employed in the analysis. Analysis was done using SPSS V.20. Results were considered significant at α=0.05. Commercial motorcycle injury patients formed 39.4% of all road traffic injury admissions. 70.1% were males and median age was 30 years. Pattern of injuries sustained by victims included head and neck injury 40%, lower extremity injury 39.9% and chest injury 8.2%. Motorcycle riders (45.1%) and passengers (38.9%) without a helmet during the crash sustained severe head injuries ( 2 =106.944, P<0.001). Surgical intervention was indicated for 63.8% of the inpatients. 70% of patients with head injuries were assessed as having Glasgow coma scale of 9-12, 26% GCS of 13-15 and 7% GCS of 3-8. Motorcycle versus vehicle was the most common mechanism of motorcycle crash injury 45.6%. Head injuries and lower extremity injuries accounted for the major proportion of injuries sustained by commercial 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 and encouraging enforcement of traffic laws.
BMC Public Health, 2015
Background: Low and middle-income countries carry over ninety per cent of the burden of injury related mortality and disability. Motorcycles are gradually becoming a major mode of transportation in Cameroon and other African countries in the absence of an organized public transport. Consequently, the contribution of motorcycle crash to injury-related deaths seems to be on the rise. Currently, data addressing motorcycle crash characteristics, pattern, and severity of motorcycle-related injuries in Cameroon are scarce. We hypothesised that head and limb injuries are the most frequent cause of morbidity and mortality and equally affect riders and pillion passengers. Methods: This hospital-based prospective pilot cohort analysis involving 405 motorcycle crashes and 621 injury victims was conducted in Laquintinie Hospital, a large centre located in an urban area in Cameroon. All motorcycle riders and passengers received in the emergency department over a 4 months period with an injury following a traffic related crash were included. Crash characteristics and type, anatomical location and severity of injuries were recorded and analysed comparing the pattern of injuries between riders and pillion passengers involved in motorcyclecrashes. This pilot analysis is expected to propose a snapshot of motorcycle injuries in Douala and will be followed by a larger analysis over a longer period. Results: We recorded a majority of motorcycle versus car and motorcycle versus motorcycle collisions. Most of these crashes occurred over the weekend and in the night. Helmet use was almost inexistent. We observed that females aged above 40 years represented the majority of pillion passengers. This accounted for the sex-ratio of 1.1/1. A total of 1311 injuries were identified in our patients, giving a mean of 2.1 injuries per victim. The head and the limbs were the most affected anatomical areas. Riders carried a higher risk of sustaining an injury to head and neck than pillion passengers. Riders and pillion passengers carried equal risk of injury to the lower limbs. Emergency room mortality was 4 • 3 % and riders were more likely to die than pillion passengers. Conclusion: This study has identified females aged above 40 years as a special vulnerable group in Douala. It also carries strong messages useful for the implementation of preventive measures and management of patients injured in motorcycle-related crash in general.
Objective The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence and associated factors of motorcycle accident injuries in hospitals of Sothern Ethiopia, 2018/2019.Result Of the total 423 road traffic injury, motorcycles were involved in 213 (50.4%) of the road traffic accidents. The presence of poor road conditions like loose gravel, steep descent, and rough road was responsible for 44.6% of motorcycle accident injury. The odds of motorcycle accident injuries were 50% and 52% less likely to occur during sunny and foggy weather conditions respectively compared to rainy weather conditions.
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.
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
Open Access Emergency Medicine
Background: Road traffic damages were amongst the central causes of passing away, hospitalization, disability, and low socioeconomic status. About 1.3 million lethal road traffic damages and 20-50 million nonfatal damages happened consequently of road traffic accidents every year globally. Motorcycles are a small subsection of all motor vehicles significantly over-represented in total motor vehicle accidents and lead to a great rate of deaths and disabilities. Objective: The study aimed to assess the prevalence of motorcycle accident and associated factors among road traffic accident patients in Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Hawassa city, Ethiopia in 2019. Methods and Materials: The health institution/hospital-based retrospective cross-sectional study design was applied and a systematic random sampling technique was implemented to select the sample size of 274 patient's cards from January 2018 to January 2019. The data were entered and analyzed on SPSS 20. Results: From 274 patients' medical records reviewed in the study period, 151 (55.1%) injuries were due to motorcycle accident. In a multiple logistic regression analysis, age, sex, high speed, and types of roads showed significant association with motorcycle accidents. Conclusion: The prevalence of motorcycle accidents was the main cause of injuries among others, which was 55.1%. Motorcycle accidents occurred mainly in males and in people with the age category of 20-29 years. Age, sex, high speed, and type of road were significantly associated with a motorcycle accident.
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.