KNOWLEDGE OF MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENTS AND UTILISATION OF SAFETY KITS AMONG COMMERCIAL MOTORCYCLISTS IN IDO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, OYO STATE

Abstract

The socio-economic situation in Nigeria has necessitated motorcycle use as a means of transportation and livelihood. Fatal head injuries, fractures and bruises sustained as a result of non use of safety kits remain a public health concern in the country. Earlier studies in Oyo State had focused on causes of Commercial Motorcycle Accident (CMA) among commercial motorcyclists (CMs) in Ibadan Metropolis. This dearth of information on the use of safety kits aimed at reducing the impact of fatal injuries among CMs. This study was therefore designed to investigate the knowledge of motorcycle accident and utilisation of safety kits among CMs in Ido Local Government Area Oyo State. This descriptive cross-sectional study employed a three stage sampling technique which includes LGA wards, CMs units and 400 consenting respondents. A semi-structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to elicit information on respondents' Socio-demographic characteristics, causes of CMA, utilisation of safety kits and knowledge of safety kits (KSKs). Knowledge was measured on a 14-point scale; scores ≤5, >5-10 and >10 were categorised as poor, fair and good respectively. Focus Group Discussion on causes of motorcycle accident and utilization of safety kits were analysed thematically while quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square test and logistic regression at p=0.05. Respondents' age was 31.7±9.0 years, 50.0% had completed secondary education and 64.3% had at least five years' experience in commercial motorcycle riding. About a third (37.8%) had been involved in CMA in the last six months and 47 (11.8%) of these had CMA twice prior to the study. Most common injuries sustained during CMA were bruises (34.1%) and burns (26.9%). The most reported causes of CMA were slippery roads (17.4%) and collision from the rear (17.0%). Majority (84.0%) usually carry more than one passenger at a time, 64.8% received or make calls while riding. Out of the 37.8% of the respondents that had CMA, 56.0% did not use crash helmet. About 49.2% reported that they were not wearing any protective kits during the accident. About 46.2% reported not wearing crash helmet (CH) and majority (83.2%) do not provide CH for their passengers. Majority (90.0%) of the respondents saw nothing wrong in wearing bathroom slippers while riding. Majority (76.3%) had good KSKs with a knowledge score of 12.3±2.5. There was a significant association between use of protective kit helmet and occurrence of accident in the last six months. Sixty-five percent of motorcyclists who had spent 5 years or more in Commercial Motorcycle riding had good KSKs compared to those who hod spent below 5years (35.9%). Respondents with more than five years experience in motorcycle riding were less likely to be involved in CMA compared with those with lesser years (OR-0.39 CI=0.19-0.77). Majority of the FGD discussants observed that human factors such as making use of mobile phone while riding, over speeding and overloading were the major causes of CMA _ Knowledge of safety kits among commercial motorcycle bus was high but the use of accident safety kits was poor. Therefore, use of accident safety kits should be promoted among commercial motorcyclists.