TY - JOUR
T1 - Factors associated with head injury among survivors of motorcycle crashes
T2 - a case-control study in northern Ghana
AU - Appiah, Anthony Baffour
AU - Akweongo, Patricia
AU - Sackey, Samuel
AU - Morna, Martin Tangnaa
AU - Kenu, Ernest
AU - Buunaaim, Alexis Dun Bo Ib
AU - Debrah, Samuel Akobour Yaw
AU - Ojo, Thomas Kolawole
AU - Donkor, Peter
AU - Mock, Charles
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© Anthony Baffour Appiah et al.
PY - 2022/10/11
Y1 - 2022/10/11
N2 - Introduction: the increasing use of motorcycles in northern Ghana is associated with a high incidence of motorcycle crashes and resultant head injuries. This study sought to determine factors associated with head injuries among survivors of motorcycle crashes in northern Ghana. Methods: a prospective unmatched case-control study was conducted at the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH). A total of 326 cases (victims who suffered a head injury with or without other injuries) and 294 controls (persons who suffered various injuries except for head injury) from motorcycle crashes were consecutively sampled at TTH from December 15, 2019, to May 15, 2020. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to interview patients in addition to medical records review. Factors associated with head injury were examined using multivariable logistic regression at p<0.05 and a 95% confidence interval. Results: the prevalence of head injury was 53.03% among of 660 survivors of motorcycle crashes. The majority of the patients were young males aged 15-44 years. The rate of helmet use was lower in cases (12.88%) than in controls (57.82%) (p<0.001). Factors associated with head injury were not wearing helmet (AOR= 9.80, 95% CI: 6.22, 15.43), male (AOR=1.75, 95% CI: 1.07, 2.85), student (AOR=0.38, 95% CI: 0.16, 0.91), and alcohol use within 24 hours (AOR=0.17, 95% CI: 0.04, 0.70). Conclusion: non-use of helmet and male gender significantly increased the risk of head injury risk in this study. Alcohol use and being a student were associated with lower odds of head injuries. Motorcycle safety efforts in the study area should emphasize helmet promotion.
AB - Introduction: the increasing use of motorcycles in northern Ghana is associated with a high incidence of motorcycle crashes and resultant head injuries. This study sought to determine factors associated with head injuries among survivors of motorcycle crashes in northern Ghana. Methods: a prospective unmatched case-control study was conducted at the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH). A total of 326 cases (victims who suffered a head injury with or without other injuries) and 294 controls (persons who suffered various injuries except for head injury) from motorcycle crashes were consecutively sampled at TTH from December 15, 2019, to May 15, 2020. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to interview patients in addition to medical records review. Factors associated with head injury were examined using multivariable logistic regression at p<0.05 and a 95% confidence interval. Results: the prevalence of head injury was 53.03% among of 660 survivors of motorcycle crashes. The majority of the patients were young males aged 15-44 years. The rate of helmet use was lower in cases (12.88%) than in controls (57.82%) (p<0.001). Factors associated with head injury were not wearing helmet (AOR= 9.80, 95% CI: 6.22, 15.43), male (AOR=1.75, 95% CI: 1.07, 2.85), student (AOR=0.38, 95% CI: 0.16, 0.91), and alcohol use within 24 hours (AOR=0.17, 95% CI: 0.04, 0.70). Conclusion: non-use of helmet and male gender significantly increased the risk of head injury risk in this study. Alcohol use and being a student were associated with lower odds of head injuries. Motorcycle safety efforts in the study area should emphasize helmet promotion.
KW - Motorcycle
KW - case-control
KW - head injury
KW - risk factors
KW - survivors
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85145344405&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.11604/pamj.2022.43.73.35900
DO - 10.11604/pamj.2022.43.73.35900
M3 - Article
C2 - 36591000
AN - SCOPUS:85145344405
SN - 1937-8688
VL - 43
JO - Pan African Medical Journal
JF - Pan African Medical Journal
M1 - 73
ER -