Motorcycle helmet use and related risk behaviors among adolescents and young adults in Northern Thailand.
Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health
;
2004 Mar; 35(1): 232-41
Article
in English
| IMSEAR
| ID: sea-34130
ABSTRACT
The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of not wearing a helmet (unprotected) while riding a motorcycle and associated risk behaviors among adolescents and young adults in Northern Thailand. Participants were 1725 students, aged 15-21 years, from 3 vocational schools in Chiang Rai Province; 51.8% were male. Participants completed a classroom-based computer-assisted self-interview (ACASI). Of men 72.7% and of women 64.4% reported unprotected motorcycle riding 3 times or more in the past week. Logistic regression analysis showed the variables independently associated with unprotected riding to be history of ever riding after having had 3 or more alcoholic drinks (odds ratio (OR) = 2.21, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.76-2.21), attending technical school (OR = 2.09, 95% Cl = 1.55-2.83), living with the family (OR = 1.38, 95% CI = 1.10-1.73), and having ever had a traffic accident (OR = 1.20, 95% CI = 1.12-1.29). Being of hill tribe ethnicity (vs Thai lowlander) was associated with protected riding (OR = 0.42, 95% CI = 0.20-0.90). Adolescents and young adults in Chiang Rai are at high risk for riding a motorcycle without a helmet buckled on the head. Public education in combination with enforcement of compulsory helmet use while riding a motorcycle is recommended.
Full text:
Available
Index:
IMSEAR (South-East Asia)
Main subject:
Risk-Taking
/
Thailand
/
Motorcycles
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Alcohol Drinking
/
Accidents, Traffic
/
Confidence Intervals
/
Logistic Models
Type of study:
Etiology study
/
Incidence study
/
Observational study
/
Prevalence study
/
Prognostic study
/
Risk factors
Country/Region as subject:
Asia
Language:
English
Journal:
Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health
Year:
2004
Type:
Article
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