Evaluation of the use and reasons for not using a helmet by motorcyclists admitted to the emergency ward of shahid bahonar hospital in kerman

Helmet utilisation and its associated factors among motorcyclists in northern Ghana: an analytical cross-sectional survey

BACKGROUND

Motorcycle crashes are a major source of road traffic deaths in northern Ghana. Helmet use has been low. The last time it was formally assessed (2010), helmet use was 30.0% (34.2% for riders and 1.9% for pillion riders). We sought to determine the current prevalence of helmet use and its associated factors among motorcyclists in northern Ghana.

METHODS

Cross-sectional observations of motorcycle helmet use were conducted among 3853 motorcycle riders and 1097 pillion riders in the Northern Region at 12 different locations near intersections, roundabouts and motorcycle bays. Modified Poisson regression was used to assess the factors associated with helmet use.

RESULTS

The prevalence of helmet use was 22.1% overall: 26.7% among motorcycle riders and 5.7% among pillion riders. On the multivariable regression analysis, the prevalence of helmet use among motorcycle riders was 69% higher during the day compared with the night, 58% higher at weekend compared with weekday, 46% higher among males compared with females, but it was 18% lower on local roads compared with highways, 67% lower among young riders compared with the elderly and 29% lower when riding with pillion rider(s).

CONCLUSION

Despite small increases in motorcycle helmet use among pillion riders, helmet use has declined overall over the past decade. Immediate actions are needed to promote helmet use among motorcyclists in northern Ghana. This calls for a multisectoral approach to address the current low helmet use, targeting young riders, female riders, pillion riders, evening riding and riding on local roads.

The prevalence of helmet use in motorcyclists around the world: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 5,006,476 participants

Road traffic injuries present a significant public health burden, especially in developing countries. This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesized global evidence on motorcycle helmet use prevalence by including 299 records across 249 articles involving 5,006,476 participants from 1982 to 2022. The findings revealed a declining trend in helmet use prevalence over the past four decades, with an overall prevalence of 48.71%. The meta-regression analysis did not find any statistically significant change in the overall prevalence. Subgroup analysis showed higher helmet use prevalence in observation/survey records (54.29%) compared to crashed patient records (44.84%). Riders/Motorcyclists demonstrated a higher likelihood of wearing helmets than passengers in both observation/survey records (62.61 vs. 28.23%) and crashed patient records (47.76 vs. 26.61%). Countries with mandatory helmet use laws had higher helmet usage prevalence compared to those without (52.26 vs. 37.21%). The African continent had the lowest helmet use rates, while Latin America and the Caribbean regions had higher rates. This study provides a comprehensive overview of global helmet use prevalence, emphasizing disparities between high and low-income countries, variations in law enforcement, and trends over four decades. Targeted interventions are necessary to improve helmet-wearing habits, especially among passengers and regions with low usage rates. Effective legislation and awareness campaigns are crucial for promoting helmet use and reducing road traffic injuries burden.

Helmet Use Among Two-Wheeler Riders’ Road Accident Victims in Benin

Background

In Benin, some riders of two-wheeled vehicles still do not wear helmets, the main protection against head injuries in road accidents. The objective of this study is to describe the characteristics of two-wheeled users, and to determine the factors influencing helmet use among this group.

Methods

This is a prospective cross-sectional study of 977 two-wheeled road accident victims from a cohort. Proportions or means were calculated for the different variables. Statistical comparisons were made to test the association with helmet use. Logistic regression modelling was performed to identify factors associated with helmet use.

Results

Among all subjects, 81.1% [CI95% (78.5; 83.4)] wore a helmet. Factors explaining helmet use were female gender (OR = 2.8 [1.3–6.1]), purpose of trip (OR = 1.7 [1.1–2.6]), possession of health insurance (OR = 3.7 [1.3–10, 5]), having been driving for 15–20 years (OR = 2.6 [1.4–4.7]) or more than 20 years (OR = 3.4 [2.0–5.8]), good road conditions (OR = 3.1 [2.0–4.8]), and good visibility (OR = 1.9 [1.3–3.1]).

Conclusion

The factors influencing helmet use are gender, reason for travel, length of time as a driver, possession of health insurance, conditions, and visibility of the road on which the subject are driving. These factors are related to experience and appropriation of the notion of risk, but also related to the environment. To increase helmet use among two-wheelers, helmet awareness should take into account the individual factors found in this study. Enforcement actions should be strengthened, and the quality of the roads improved.

Trends in Smart Helmets With Multimodal Sensing for Health and Safety: Scoping Review

BACKGROUND

As a form of the Internet of Things (IoT)-gateways, a smart helmet is one of the core devices that offers distinct functionalities. The development of smart helmets connected to IoT infrastructure helps promote connected health and safety in various fields. In this regard, we present a comprehensive analysis of smart helmet technology and its main characteristics and applications for health and safety.

OBJECTIVE

This paper reviews the trends in smart helmet technology and provides an overview of the current and future potential deployments of such technology, the development of smart helmets for continuous monitoring of the health status of users, and the surrounding environmental conditions. The research questions were as follows: What are the main purposes and domains of smart helmets for health and safety? How have researchers realized key features and with what types of sensors?

METHODS

We selected studies cited in electronic databases such as Google Scholar, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and EBSCO on smart helmets through a keyword search from January 2010 to December 2021. In total, 1268 papers were identified (Web of Science: 87/1268, 6.86%; EBSCO: 149/1268, 11.75%; ScienceDirect: 248/1268, 19.55%; and Google Scholar: 784/1268, 61.82%), and the number of final studies included after PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) study selection was 57. We also performed a self-assessment of the reviewed articles to determine the quality of the paper. The scoring was based on five criteria: test environment, prototype quality, feasibility test, sensor calibration, and versatility.

RESULTS

Smart helmet research has been considered in industry, sports, first responder, and health tracking scenarios for health and safety purposes. Among 57 studies, most studies with prototype development were industrial applications (18/57, 32%), and the 2 most frequent studies including simulation were industry (23/57, 40%) and sports (23/57, 40%) applications. From our assessment-scoring result, studies tended to focus on sensor calibration results (2.3 out of 3), while the lowest part was a feasibility test (1.6 out of 3). Further classification of the purpose of smart helmets yielded 4 major categories, including activity, physiological and environmental (hazard) risk sensing, as well as risk event alerting.

CONCLUSIONS

A summary of existing smart helmet systems is presented with a review of the sensor features used in the prototyping demonstrations. Overall, we aimed to explore new possibilities by examining the latest research, sensor technologies, and application platform perspectives for smart helmets as promising wearable devices. The barriers to users, challenges in the development of smart helmets, and future opportunities for health and safety applications are also discussed. In conclusion, this paper presents the current status of smart helmet technology, main issues, and prospects for future smart helmet with the objective of making the smart helmet concept a reality.

A Study to Assess the Awareness and Practices of Helmet Use among Two-Wheeler Riders in Delhi

Objectives To assess the awareness and practice of two-wheeler riders regarding the helmet use, and to determine the association of awareness and practices with selected variables.

Setting and Design This article is a descriptive survey, which was completed at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) premises, New Delhi, India.

Materials and Methods The pretested and validated tools developed by researcher consisted of demographic sheet (8 items) along with structured awareness and practice questionnaire.

Results and Conclusions Maximum participants were male (71.06%) with majority riding for 8 years. As much as 48% of the sample population had accidents while driving. Only 2.9% of them reported to have sustained severe injury during these accidents. The mean awareness and practice score related to helmet use were 49.58 ± 6.019.75 ± 5.56. There was weak correlation between awareness and practice. Association of awareness and practices with selected variables could not be observed (p-value—0.4870). Although public awareness is present, but law needs to be more stringent. Accidents are fatal and it can happen anywhere and anytime, irrespective of long or short distance, and wearing of helmet can save a person from major injuries.

Beyond Pathogen Filtration: Possibility of Smart Masks as Wearable Devices for Personal and Group Health and Safety Management

Face masks are an important way to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the prolonged pandemic has revealed confounding problems with the current face masks, including not only the spread of the disease but also concurrent psychological, social, and economic complications. As face masks have been worn for a long time, people have been interested in expanding the purpose of masks from protection to comfort and health, leading to the release of various "smart" mask products around the world. To envision how the smart masks will be extended, this paper reviewed 25 smart masks (12 from commercial products and 13 from academic prototypes) that emerged after the pandemic. While most smart masks presented in the market focus on resolving problems with user breathing discomfort, which arise from prolonged use, academic prototypes were designed for not only sensing COVID-19 but also general health monitoring aspects. Further, we investigated several specific sensors that can be incorporated into the mask for expanding biophysical features. On a larger scale, we discussed the architecture and possible applications with the help of connected smart masks. Namely, beyond a personal sensing application, a group or community sensing application may share an aggregate version of information with the broader population. In addition, this kind of collaborative sensing will also address the challenges of individual sensing, such as reliability and coverage. Lastly, we identified possible service application fields and further considerations for actual use. Along with daily-life health monitoring, smart masks may function as a general respiratory health tool for sports training, in an emergency room or ambulatory setting, as protection for industry workers and firefighters, and for soldier safety and survivability. For further considerations, we investigated design aspects in terms of sensor reliability and reproducibility, ergonomic design for user acceptance, and privacy-aware data-handling. Overall, we aim to explore new possibilities by examining the latest research, sensor technologies, and application platform perspectives for smart masks as one of the promising wearable devices. By integrating biomarkers of respiration symptoms, a smart mask can be a truly cutting-edge device that expands further knowledge on health monitoring to reach the next level of wearables.

Barriers and factors associated with the use of helmets by Motorcyclists: A scoping review

Road Traffic Injuries (RTIs) have imposed a great global burden on public health. Motorcyclists and pedestrians comprise the most significant proportion of this burden. Several studies have demonstrated a link between helmet wearing and a decline in the impact of RTIs in motorcyclists. In this study, we aimed to review the barriers to helmet utilization by motorcyclists. This scoping review has been conducted in accordance with the guidelines for the systematic review of observational studies and the PRISMA Checklist. The search was conducted by using related keywords in EMBASE, PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Library. Four independent reviewers carried out the screening. The main outcomes of interest were barriers to helmet usage among motorcyclists, drawn from the finally included studies. Fifty-three records were selected for data extraction. According to these reports, the barriers and factors associated with helmet usage among motorcyclists were categorized into five entities as: legislations/enforcement strategies, helmet disadvantages (discomfort, visual/auditory blockage, and thermal dysregulation), risky behaviors (riding while drunk or high on drugs), sex and/or age factors, and the location and time of the injury event (rural vs. urban locations, day vs. night riding). From the perspective of policymakers, the findings of this review are of utmost importance and could be used in addressing the challenge of inadequate compliance with helmet use.

A Focus Group Study to Explore Risky Ridership among Young Motorcyclists in Manipal, India

Road crash injuries have emerged as a significant public health issue in many low and middle-income countries in recent years. In India, motorized two-wheelers comprise 70% of the vehicle population and are considered the most vulnerable road users. Road crash injury is common among the young-aged population leading to premature deaths. It is essential to understand risky riding behaviors to develop accurate, evidence-based risk reduction programmes that fit the target population’s characteristics and the intervention setting. The current study aims to improve the understanding of the typical characteristics of motorcycle crashes among young riders in India, primarily focusing on the prevalence and role of risky riding behaviors. Five focus group discussions with eight to ten participants in each group (N = 35) were conducted in Manipal, in the Karnataka state of Southwestern India. A thematic analysis was completed using MAXQDA software to identify, analyze, and report on themes within the data. Speeding, riding under the influence of alcohol, and the poor maintenance of motorcycles were indicated as leading causes of crashes. Furthermore, using mobile phones while riding, violations of the traffic rules, and helmet non-use were identified as other risky behaviors among young riders. Future research can be taken up in other settings for the target population. Generational awareness with the involvement of young riders, government authorities, university officials, and the Regional Transport Office can be initiated. Engaging young riders, government authorities, university officials, and the Regional Transport Office through behavioral interventions such as persuasive communication techniques, an active experimental approach (such as the use of a simulator), and regulating the licensing procedure can reduce the number of road crashes.

Helmet wearing behavior where people often ride motorcycle in Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study

Background

Road traffic accidents are a major global concern that affects all people regardless of their age, sex, wealth, and ethnicity. Injuries and deaths due to motorcycles are increasing, especially in developing countries. Wearing helmet is effective in reducing deaths and injuries caused by motorcycle accidents.

Objectives

To assess the magnitude of helmet wearing behavior and its determinants among motorcycle riders in Sawula and Bulky towns, Gofa zone, Southern Ethiopia.

Methods

A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from April, 15 to May 25, 2020, among 422 motorcycle drivers in Sawula and Bulky towns, where people often drive motorcycles. A stratified sampling technique was used to recruit sampled drivers in a face-to-face interview. Data were entered into EPI-data version 3.1 software and exported to SPSS version 23 software to manage analysis. Descriptive analyses such as frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation were performed as necessary. Logistic regression models were fitted to identify the predictors of helmet wearing behavior. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to determine the magnitude and strength of the association.

Results

A total of 403 motorcycle drivers participated in the study which gave a 95.5% response rate. Among 403 motorcycle riders, only 12.4% (95% CI, 9.2 to 15.6%) wore helmets while driving motorcycles. Having license [AOR 3.51(95% C.I 1.56–7.89)], driving distance >10Km [AOR 2.53(95% C.I 1.08–5.91)], History of exposure to accident [AOR 2.71(95% C.I 1.32–5.55)], driving experience of ≥10 years [AOR 2.98 (95% C.I 1.25–7.09)] and high perceived susceptibility to accident [AOR 3.10(95% C.I 1.29–7.46)] had statistically significant association with helmet wearing compared to their counterparts.

Conclusions

This study found that helmet-wearing behavior was very low. Having a license, driving distance, exposure to accidents, driving experience, and accident risk perception were determinants of helmet wearing behavior. These determinants imply the need for interventions that focus on behavioral change communications such as awareness creation campaigns and mandatory helmet wearing laws.

The Prevalence of Helmet Use and Predictive Factors Among Motorcyclists in Shahrekord, Iran in 2018

Background and aims: Motorcycle accidents are a major concern for countries. One of the most important risk factors for motorcyclists is the lack of helmet use. This study aimed to measure the rate of the helmet use and predictive factors in Shahrekord, Iran. Methods: Using simple random sampling method, this cross-sectional study was conducted in 2018 with a sample size of 350 motorcyclists. A researcher-made questionnaire was used to collect data, and the SPSS software version 24 was used to analyze the data. Results: The mean age of participants was 28.8 ± 10.1 years. Out of 350 participants, 15.1% and 1.4% of motorcyclists and their passengers used helmets. The most important predictors of helmet use were age more than 35 years, high education, and having a driving license. The most important reason for using the helmet was protection against injuries in accidents. Conclusion: According to our results, the rate of helmet use was low. Thus, more efforts should be made to intervene and train for the helmet use among community members with an emphasis on younger people, individuals with governmental jobs, and people with lower education level.

Prevalence and factors associated with effective helmet use among motorcyclists in Mysuru City of Southern India

BACKGROUND

Helmet use reduces the risk and severity of head injury and death due to road traffic crash among motorcyclists. The protective efficacy of different types of helmets varies. Wearing firmly fastened full-face helmet termed as effective helmet use provides greatest protection. This study estimates the prevalence and factors associated with effective helmet use among motorcyclists in Mysuru, a tier II city in Southern India.

METHODS

Cross-sectional road side observational study of 3499 motorcyclists (2134 motorcycle riders and 1365 pillion riders) at four traffic intersections was done followed by interview of random sample of 129 of the above riders. Effective helmet use proportion and effective helmet use per 100 person-minute of observation was calculated. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was done to identify factors associated with effective helmet use.

RESULTS

Prevalence of effective helmet use was 28 per 100 riders and 19.5 per 100 person-minute of observation in traffic intersections. Prevalence rates of effective helmet use was higher among riders (34.5% vs pillion riders 18.1%), female riders (51.3% vs male riders 26.8%), and male pillion riders (30.5% vs female pillion riders 13.7%). Riders commuting for work and school and those ever stopped by the police in the past 3 months had significantly higher odds of effective helmet use.

CONCLUSION

Despite helmet use being compulsory by law for motorcyclists, the effective helmet use was low in Mysore. Strict enforcement and frequent checks by the police are necessary to increase the effective helmet use.

Oral and maxillofacial trauma in motorcyclists in an Iranian subpopulation

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Road traffic accidents are considered a major cause of oral and maxillofacial trauma. Given that many traumatic injuries and deaths involve motorcyclists, the aim of this study was to investigate this vulnerable group in terms of oral and maxillofacial injuries following accidents.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 330 patients with oral and maxillofacial injuries at Shahid Rajaee Hospital in Shiraz, Iran, from April to September 2017. A questionnaire with questions regarding age, gender, helmet use, and driver's license was completed for all the patients and their injury type (including dental injuries). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the chi-squared test with a significance level of 95%.

RESULTS

Of the 330 patients, 291 (88.2%) were male and 39 (11.8%) were female. There were 283 (85.75%) patients aged 21-30 years, and their mean age was 27.2 ± 6.5. Most of them (287, 87%) had not been wearing helmets at the time of the accident. Dental injuries were observed in 168 (50.9%) of the patients. Uncomplicated crown fractures were diagnosed in 25.4% of the patients, luxation injuries in 23.2%, and avulsion in 18.9%. Only 19.9% of the patients under the age of 25 had suffered facial injuries.

CONCLUSION

Most injuries in motorcycle accidents were dental trauma in men due to not wearing a helmet. Dental injuries had the highest frequency of damage.

Maxillofacial fracture epidemiology and treatment plans in the Northeast of Iran: A retrospective study

Background

The epidemiology of facial injuries varies based on lifestyle, cultural background and socioeconomic status in different countries and geographic zones. This study evaluated the epidemiology of maxillofacial fractures and treatment plans in hospitalized patients in Northeast of Iran (2015-2016).

Material and Methods

In this retrospective study, the medical records of 502 hospitalized patients were evaluated in the Department of Maxillofacial Surgery in Kamyab Hospital in Mashhad, Iran. The type and cause of fractures and treatment plans were recorded in a checklist. Data were analyzed with Mann–Whitney test, chi-squared test and Fisher’s exact test, using SPSS 21.

Results

The majority of patients were male (80.3%). Most subjects were in 20-30-year age range (43.2%). The fractures were mostly caused by accidents, particularly motorcycle accidents (MCAs), and the most common site of involvement was the body of the mandible. There was a significant association between the type of treatment and age. In fact, the age range of 16-59 years underwent open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) more than other age ranges (P=0.001). Also, there was a significant association between gender and fractures (P=0.002).

Conclusions

It was concluded that patient age and gender and trauma significantly affected the prevalence of maxillofacial traumas, fracture types and treatment plans. This information would be useful for making better health policy strategies.

Key words:Epidemiology, treatment, facial injuries, maxillofacial fractures, trauma.

Determinants and barriers of helmet use in Iranian motorcyclists: a systematic review

Background:

Helmet use by motorcyclists decreases the incidence and severity of an injury and its related death. Unfortunately, the helmet use rate is not in an acceptable level in Iran. This study aimed to systematically identify the determinants and barriers of helmet use among Iranian motorcyclists.

Methods:

A systematic search of literature was done using PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct and Web of knowledge databases for English literature and SID for Persian articles by specified keywords. Manual searching and reference of references were used to improve the articles identification. Articles published before 1995 and those which did not report the barriers and determinants of helmet use were excluded. Data were extracted using an extraction table.

Results:

Out of 49 retrieved articles, 13 articles were included in the study. Most of them (70%) had a cross-sectional design. Personal factors (such as older age, marital status and education) and motorcyclist's attitude and beliefs about the helmet effectiveness were reported as important determinants of helmet use. Helmet weight and its visual and audial limitation for motorcyclists were known as the main reported barriers to use a helmet.

Conclusions:

Interventions affecting the motorcyclists' attitude must be employed along with the legal interventions. Moreover, cost-effective engineering improvements in helmet production remain an important policy to improve the compliance of helmet use.

Epidemiology of Urban Traffic Accident Victims Hospitalized More Than 24 Hours in a Level III Trauma Center, Kashan County, Iran, During 2012-2013

BACKGROUND

Urban traffic accidents are an extensively significant problem in small and busy towns in Iran. This study tried to explore the epidemiological pattern of urban traffic accidents in Kashan and Aran-Bidgol cities, Iran.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to assess various epidemiological factors affecting victims of trauma admitted to a main trauma center in Iran.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

During a retrospective study, data including age, sex, injury type and pattern, outcome, hospital stay and treatment expenditures regarding urban Road Traffic Accidents (RTAs) for one year (March 2012-March 2013) were obtained from the registry of trauma research center, emergency medical services and deputy of health of Kashan University of Medical Sciences. One-way ANOVA and chi-square tests were used to analyze data using SPSS version 16.0. P value < 0.05 was considered significant.

RESULTS

A total of 1723 victims (82.6% male, sex ratio of almost 5:1) were considered in this study. Mortality rate in trauma cases hospitalized more than 24 hours during our study was 0.8%. Young motorcyclist men with the rate of more than 103 per 10000 were the most vulnerable group. The most common injury was head injury (73.6%) followed by lower limb injury (33.2%). A significant association was found between mechanism of injury and head, lower limb, multiple injuries and high risk age group.

CONCLUSIONS

Urban RTAs are one of the most important problems in Kashan and Aran-Bidgol cities, which impose a great economic burden on health system. Motorcyclists are the most vulnerable victims and multiple trauma and head injury are seen among them extensively.