Motorcycle crash: injuries pattern and associated factors among patients treated at Muhimbili Orthopaedic Institute (MOI).

Abstract

Road Traffic injuries are of major health problem. In recent years there has been an increase in motorcycling as means of transport in Dar es Salaam and Tanzania as whole. It is believed that motorcycle is also a source of employment and income to young people. This increase in motorcycling has been accompanied by an increase of motorcycle crash injuries. Despite the alarming increase of motorcycle crash injuries, little is known about the pattern of injuries and associated factors of motorcycle crash in the local setting. This study sought to identify the pattern and factors associated with motorcycle crash injuries among the victims treated at Muhimbili Orthopaedic Institute. This was a descriptive cross sectional study involving motorcycle crash injury victims treated at the emergency department of MOI from 15th March, 2011 to 15th September, 2011. A structured questionnaire was used to collect the information from the study participants in a face to face interview. Data on demographic factors, injury patterns, use of helmet and license possession were recorded. The injuries were grouped according to anatomical location. Data were entered into the statistical package for social studies (SPSS) program (version 15) for clearing, coding and statistical analysis. P-value of 0.05 was considered significant. In the period of six months a total of 2429 road traffic injury victims were treated at the emergency department of MOI out of who 886(36.5%) were motorcycle crash injury victims. The study included 722 motorcycle crash injury victims, 625 (86.6%) were males and 97 (13.4%) females with a mean age of 33.9 years (SD=13.1), ranging from 13 to 90 years. Majority (65.0%) motorcycle crash injury victims were between the age of 20 and 40 years. The extremity injuries 520 (72.0%) and head injuries 246 (34.1%) were the commonest injuries. The commonest musculoskeletal injury (66.8%) was fracture, with tibia-fibula fracture comprising the largest proportion (30.4%). There were 116 (16.1%) of motorcycle crash injury victims who sustained injury in more than one body regions. The collision between motorcycle and motor vehicle was the most frequently reported vii collision (50.3%) followed by collision between motorcycle and pedestrian (27.4%). Helmet use was reported in only 44.9% of motorcycle crash injury victims including rider (61.8%) and passenger (12.6%). 49.9% of riders possessed license and its possession significantly influenced the use of helmet among riders Motorcycle crash is major problem at Muhimbili Orthopaedic Institute Dar es Salaam and the majority of those who are involved in motorcycle crashes are youth. The majority of the injuries involved the extremity and head injuries. Riding license and use of helmet are still not widely used. And the collision between a motorcycle and motor vehicle was the most recorded. Since motorcycle crashes are preventable and associated factors causing injuries are reducible necessary laws and restrictive regulations should be put in place. Also the educational programs on road safety should be implemented in primary schools.