PERCEPTIONS AND USE OF CRASH HELMETS AMONG COMMERCIAL MOTORCYCLE RIDERS IN IDO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, OYO STATE NIGERIA

Abstract

There is an increasing prevalence of head injuries arising from motorcycle accidents in Nigeria .The wearing of crash helmet is aimed at reducing the impact of such injuries. Few studies exist on the perceptions and use of crash helmet among commercial motorcyclists in Nigeria. This study was designed to assess the perceptions and use of crash helmets among commercial motorcyclists in Ido local Government Area of Oyo State, Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional design was adopted Ten Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were conducted. Four hundred commercial motorcyclists were observed while riding in the morning, afternoon and evening at three major locations using an observation check list. Systematic random sampling technique was used to select 500 motorcyclists who were interviewed using a validated semi-structured questionnaire.The FGD data were recorded on audio tapes, transcribed and analyzed using the thematic approach. Data from the check-list and questionnaires were analyzed using descriptive. Chi-square, t-test and F-test statistics. Participants' mean age was 28.9± 17 years. All the participants were males and predominantly of Yoruba ethnicity (93.8%) of the 400 motorcyclists observed, only 6.8% wore their helmets in the morning, 5.8% in the afternoon and 4.3% in the evening respectively. Many of the participants (67.6%) claimed to own a helmet. About half (49.8%) of the participants within the 25-34 years age group claimed to use helmet. Participants with secondary education clammed to use helmet (57.5%) more than those with non-formal schooling (2.2%), primary (19. 3%) and tertiary education (21.1%) (p<0.05). The participants` overall mean knowledge score relating to the components of the helmet was 71±2.1 out of 12 points. Sixty seven percent reported they had ever used a helmet.Of these 17.5% reported that they used it sometimes while 33. 4% used it always. Helmet was used by 2.4% only when law enforcement officers patrolled the highway.The top three reasons given for non-use of the helmet were discomfort (46.7%), sight obstruction (17.4%) and perceived lack of protection (16.5%). 0f the 162 who had no helmet, 66.7% had no intention of procuring one. The top five complaints for non use of helmet were, sweating (81.2%) headache and neck pain each (67.4%), vision reduction (48.4%), hearing impairment (64%) and tiredness (45.4%). Slightly more than half (57.4%) were of the opinion that the law which prescribes helmet use should not be enforced for commercial motorcyclists. Overall, 65.4% reported ever having had a motorcycle accident, while 40 .4% had at least one motorcycle accident within the year preceding the study. Of these, 13.4% wore crash helmet at the time of the accident while 86.6% did not. Majority of the FGD participants were able to list the main components of a good helmet. However, there was unanimity of opinion among them that helmet was not effective for preventing head injury. Despite the high level of awareness about the importance of using crash helmet among motorcyclists, the observed use was low. Health education strategies such as training, advocacy and social marketing are needed to promote the use of the crash helmet among motorcyclists.