Determinants of motorcycle injuries among motorcycles drivers in jimma zone selected public hospitals, south west Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: motorcycle crashes are among the leading causes of unnatural deaths worldwide. Motorcycle accidents therefore threat to the health of human beings. Data on determinants of injuries are needed to support policy and program recommendations. Studies on socio demographic, motorcyclists and environmental related determinants of motorcycles injuries among motorcycle drivers were not undertaken in the study area. Objective: to assessed determinants of motorcycle injuries among motorcycles drivers in Jimma Zone selected public hospitals, Southwest Ethiopia,2018. Methods: the study was conducted in four public hospitals of Jimma Zone, from April to May 2018. Case control study design was used to assess determinants of motorcycle injuries among motorcycles drivers. Consecutive sampling technique was used to select sample of 87 cases. The 174 controls were selected considering similarity of exposure status as cases. Data was collected by interviewer administered structured questionnaires. The ratio of cases to controls were used 1:2. Bivariate logistic regression was conducted and variables nominated for multivariate using p-value <0.2. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the association between dependent and independent variables. Adjusted Odds ratio(AOR) with corresponding 95% CI was used to assess associations and P-value<0.05 was used to identify level of significance. Results- this study attempted to determinants of motorcycle injuries were; not used helmet(AOR:5.2 ; 95％CI: 1.1, 23.5), driver violated right way of road side (AOR:2.1;95 ％CI:1.05,4.1) and safety tools used (AOR: 0.3;95％CI: 0.1, 0.6) found to be strong predictors of motorcycle injuries. Conclusion- not used helmet, driver violated recommended right way and safety tools utilization were predictors of motorcycles injuries. Interventions are required for; towns health, traffic polices and road transportation offices should work to improve the existing driving practices and to enhance receptiveness of legal driving rules.