Determinants of Commercial Motorcycle Related Injuries In Butula Subcounty, Busia County, Kenya.
Journal Title: IOSR Journal of Nursing and health Science - Year 2018, Vol 7, Issue 6
Abstract
Background: Motorcycle injuries constitute a major but neglected emerging public health problem in developing countries. In Kenya, Commercial motorcycling has become a popular mode of transport in both rural and urban areas since 1990s but traced to 1960s. However, its related injuries cause significant morbidity and mortality. Many road users have viewed their presence in the roads as the cause of congestion, confusion, fear, and decreased safety in the road system. Few community-based studies have investigated the problem leading to inadequate data to inform prevention strategies. Objectives: The primary objectives were; to determine the demographic characteristics of motorcyclists in Butula sub county, determine the, environmental and human factors associated with commercial motorcyclist’s crashes and injuries. Study design and Methods: Population based, cross-sectional study involving 197 commercial motorcyclists, Cluster, systematic and simple random sampling methods were used at different stages to select sites and motorcyclists within Butula Sub County. Structured questionnaires were administered to the commercial motorcyclists Results: One hundred and ninety seven male commercial motorcyclists were interviewed. Sixty nine percent were aged below 30years with a majority (32%) between 20-25years. Most (70%) of the participants were married and had only attained upper and lower primary level of education (62%). More than half (59%) of the motorcyclists had no formal training in driving and 35% of them had only one year experience. Almost all (80%) of the participants ever had an accident. Drug abuse (20%) and over speeding (36%) are leading human factors associated with commercial motorcycle related injuries and of this drugs, alcohol is the most (70%) abused. Lack of road signs (27%) and poor road networks (23%) are the leading environmental factors causing injuries. Tyre defect (45%) and mechanical failure (27%) are also contributory factors and more than half (52%) of cyclists own Bajaj type of motorcycle which according to 48% of them is mostly involved in accident because of its high speed and is considered very light. Conclusion: Commercial motorcyclists in Butula Sub County are men aged below 30years: are highly exposed to injuries due to interaction with traffic systems. Therefore emphasis need to be put to curb the human, environmental and vehicle- related factors that have been established to be associated with commercial motorcycle related injuries in the study area.
Authors and Affiliations
Wanjala Pius, Cholo Wilberforce, Miriam Wepukhulu, Migiro Victor
Keywords
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- EP ID EP437202
- DOI 10.9790/1959-0706094759.
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