Background. The escalating use of motorcycle for commercial transportation of commuters and goods has resulted in an increase in morbidity and mortality from road traffic injuries. Objectives. To study the characteristics of motorcycle injuries seen in Irrua, Nigeria. Materials and Methods. This is a one-year prospective study of all patients seen from January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2009. A structured proforma was filled for all consecutive crash victims involving a motorcycle. Results. Motorcycle injuries accounted for 11.6% of attendance in surgical emergency room (142 out of 1,214); 76.8% were males. Amongst victims 47.1% were riders, 42.9%, passengers, and 7.8% pedestrians. Extremity injury accounted for 42.2% while head injury occurred in 21.8%. There were 9 deaths (6.3%). In this study no victim used crash helmet. Conclusion. Banning of motorcycle for commercial use and the introduction of tricycles into rural/suburban comminutes may be an important preventive strategy. 1. Introduction Road traffic injuries are a worldwide disaster. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that about 1.2 million die and 50 million are injured yearly [1]. Unfortunately, a disproportionate burden of this injury is currently and will continue to be borne by low income and middle income countries [1, 2]. Some of this increase has been fueled largely by the escalating use of motorcycles for commercial transportation of commuters, goods, and services [3, 4]. Motorcycles are the most dangerous type of motor vehicles to drive accounting for higher rates of crashes and fatalities compared to passenger cars per miles driven [5]. Many reasons have been adduced for the explosion in numbers of Motorcycles on Nigerian roads. These range from the relative low costs of newer Asian models (<$500) to their ability to meander through traffic jams and bad roads [3]. However in rural communities there are no traffic jams. In truth, there is very poor or nonexistent public transportation system to serve rural and suburban communities. The commercial motorcyclist therefore fills a void. “Okadas” or “One Chance” as commercial motorcycles are eponymously called in Nigeria [6, 7] now serves for inter- and intravillage commuters as well as for conveyance of goods and services. Rural dwellers embrace this service for want of a choice. It is better than use of bicycles or trekking to farms and markets. The riders exploiting this void do so because of the increasing recognition of the economic empowerment it confers. Within twenty-four hours of commencement of commercial motorcycling,
References
[1]
M. Peden, R. Scurfield, D. Sleet, et al., World Report on Road Traffic Injury Prevention, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland, 2004.
[2]
E. Koptis and M. Cropper, “Traffic fatalities and economic growth,” Policy Research Working Paper no. 3035, The World Bank, Washington, DC, USA, 2003.
[3]
B. A. Solagberu, C. K. P. Ofoegbu, A. A. Nasir, O. K. Ogundipe, A. O. Adekanye, and L. O. Abdur-Rahman, “Motorcycle injuries in a developing country and the vulnerability of riders, passengers, and pedestrians,” Injury Prevention, vol. 12, no. 4, pp. 266–268, 2006.
[4]
P. F. A. Umebese and S. U. Okukpo, “Motorcycle accidents in a Nigerian University Campus: a one year Study of pattern of trauma sustained in a University Campus,” Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice, vol. 10, pp. 433–436, 2001.
[5]
“Hurt report,” http://trafficsafety.org/safety.
[6]
“Wikipedia,” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okada.
[7]
I. A. Etukumana, O. L. C. John, and M. Valenti, “Possible causes of motorcycle (Okada) accident in Kano Nigeria,” Injury Prevention, vol. 16, article a88, 2010.
[8]
A. A. Nasir, J. O. Bello, C. K. P. Ofoegbu, L. O. Abdur-Rahman, S. Yakub, and B. A. Solagberu, “Childhood motorcycle-related injuries in a Nigerian city—prevalence, spectrum and strategies for control,” South African Journal of Child Health, vol. 5, no. 2, pp. 48–50, 2011.
[9]
J. K. Emejulu, C. Ekweogwu, and T. Nottidge, “The burden of motorcycle-related neurotrauma in South—East Nigeria,” Journal of Clinical Medicine Research, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 13–17, 2009.
[10]
H. C. Nwadiaro, K. K. Ekwe, I. C. Akpayak, and H. Shitta, “Motorcycle injuries in north-central Nigeria,” Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice, vol. 14, no. 2, pp. 186–189, 2011.
[11]
E. O. Odelowo, “Pattern of trauma resulting from motorcycle accidents in Nigerians: a two-year prospective study,” African Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences, vol. 23, no. 2, pp. 109–112, 1994.
[12]
J. A. O. Okeniyi, K. S. Oluwadiya, T. A. Ogunlesi, A. Oyedejio, and O. A. Oyelami, “Motorcycle injury: an emerging menace to child health in Nigeria,” Internet Journal of Pediatrics & Neonatology, vol. 5, no. 1, p. 22, 2005.
[13]
B. C. Liu, R. Ivers, R. Norton, S. Boufous, S. Blows, and S. K. Lo, “Helmets for preventing injury in motorcycle riders,” Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, no. 1, Article ID CD004333, 2008.
[14]
K. S. Oluwadiya, L. M. Oginni, A. A. Olasinde, and S. O. Fadiora, “Motorcycle limb injuries in a developing country,” West African Journal of Medicine, vol. 23, no. 1, pp. 42–47, 2004.
[15]
E. Germeni, C. Lionis, B. Davou, and E. T. Petridou, “Understanding reasons for non-compliance in motorcycle helmet use among adolescents in Greece,” Injury Prevention, vol. 15, no. 1, pp. 19–23, 2009.
[16]
O. Nj？ and S. M. Nesv？g, “Traffic behaviour among adolescents using mopeds and light motorcycles,” Journal of Safety Research, vol. 38, no. 4, pp. 481–492, 2007.
[17]
J. F. Kraus, C. Peek, D. L. McArthur, and A. Williams, “The effect of the 1992 California motorcycle helmet use law on motorcycle crash fatalities and injuries,” The Journal of the American Medical Association, vol. 272, no. 19, pp. 1506–1511, 1994.
[18]
K. J. Mertz and H. B. Weiss, “Changes in motorcycle-related head injury deaths, hospitalizations, and hospital charges following repeal of Pennsylvania's mandatory motorcycle helmet law,” American Journal of Public Health, vol. 98, no. 8, pp. 1464–1467, 2008.
[19]
F. Servadei, C. Begliomini, E. Gardini, M. Giustini, F. Taggi, and J. Kraus, “Effect of Italy's motorcycle helmet law on traumatic brain injuries,” Injury Prevention, vol. 9, no. 3, pp. 257–260, 2003.
[20]
“The crisis in African agriculture: a more effective role for EC aid?” http://practicalaction.org/agriculture_aid.
[21]
“Nexim bank and the growth of agriculture in Nigeria,” 2013, http://thenationonlineng.net/new/.
[22]
T. O. Alonge, A. E. Dongo, T. E. Nottidge, A. B. Omololu, and S. O. Ogunlade, “Traditional bonesetters in South Western Nigeria—friends or foes?” West African Journal of Medicine, vol. 23, no. 1, pp. 81–84, 2004.
[23]
E. S. Garba and P. J. Deshi, “Traditional bone setting: a risk factor in limb amputation,” East African Medical Journal, vol. 75, no. 9, pp. 553–555, 1998.
[24]
B. A. Solagberu, “Long bone fractures treated by traditional bonesetters: a study of patients' behaviour,” Tropical Doctor, vol. 35, no. 2, pp. 106–108, 2005.
