Abstract:

Introduction: The recent growth of the commercial motorcycle sector in Kenya has seen a concomitant rise in road traffic accidents (RTAs). However, the correlates of RTAs involving commercial passenger motorcycles are largely unknown in Kenya and other developing countries. We sought to determine the incidence of commercial motorcycle accidents (MCAs) in Embu town, Kenya and its correlates. Methods: In January 2018, we recruited 202 commercial motorcycle riders and collected baseline data by means of a questionnaire in Embu town. We then followed them on weekly basis for 3 months till April 2018 to quantify the number of MCA events. Multivariable cox proportional hazards regression models were built to relate the incidence of MCAs and their correlates. Survival analysis was carried out using the Kaplan-Meier approach. Results: We quantified 48 MCA episodes translating into an incidence of 3 crashes per 1000 person-days. On multivariable analyses, riders in singlehood marital status were almost twice as likely to experience a MCA compared to those married [Adjusted HR (AHR) =1.8 (CI: 1.1, 3.4), p=0.046]. Khat (Catha edulis) users were 2-fold likely to experience a MCA relative to non-Khat (Catha edulis) users [AHR=2.1 (CI: 1.1, 4.2; p=0.021]. Conclusion: Efforts to prevent MCAs need to include a program for screening and educating young riders on the dangers of khat Catha edulis use.

Keywords: Incidence, correlates, commercial motorcycle accident, Embu, Kenya.

References:

[1].Adeyemi O, Adewole D. Risk factors of road accidents among commercial inter-state drivers in Lagos State, Nigeria. Glob J Med Res. 2017.

[2].Bachani AM, Koradia P, Herbert HK, Mogere S, Akungah D, Nyamari J, et al. Road Traffic Injuries in Kenya: The Health Burden and Risk Factors in Two Districts. Traffic Inj Prev. 2012;13(sup1):24–30.

[3].Badaru U, Lawal I, Muhammad A. Pattern of neurologic and soft tissue injuries sustained in commercial motorcyle accidents in Kano metropolis. Arch Physiother Glob Res. 2017;21(3). Choulagai P, Ling H, Sharma P, Mishra S. Epidemiology of Roads Traffic Accidents in Nepal: Data review and qualitative analysis. SM J Public Health Epidemiol. 2015;1(3):1–4.

[4].Chandramani R, Sohael K, Mahendra G, Pradeep S. Evaluation of morbidity and epidemiology of two wheelers accidents in central India. East Afr Orthop J. 2016;10(1):27–31.

[5].Evans J, O’Brien J. Informal mobilities and elusive subjects: Researching urban transport in the Global South. In: Urban Mobilities in the Global South. 2017. Routledge: 78–94.

[6].Ehebrecht D, Heinrichs D, Lenz B. Motorcycle-taxis in sub-Saharan Africa: Current knowledge, implications for the debate on “informal” transport and research needs. J Transp Geogr. 2018; 69:242–256.

[7].Faduyile F, Emiogun F, Williams O. Pattern of injuries in fatal motorcycle accidents seen in Lagos state University Teaching Hospital: An autopsy-based study. Open Access Maced J Med Sci. 2017;5(2):112–116.

[8].Gudaji M, Habib Z. Socio-Demographic Factrors associated with psychoactive substance use among commercial motorcycle operators in Kano, Nigeria. Open J Psychiatry. 2015;6(1):76.

[9].Haagsma JA, Graetz N, Bolliger I, Naghavi M, Higashi H, Mullany EC, et al. The global burden of injury: incidence, mortality, disability-adjusted life years and time trends from the Global Burden of Disease study 2013. Inj Prev. 2016;22(1):3–18.

[10]. Hameed F, Gul W, Ali I, Hanif T. Pattern of Maxillofacial injuries due to motorcycle related road traffic accidents at a Tertiary care Hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. Ann Jinnah Sindh Med Uni. 2017;3(2):80–85.

[11]. Kual A, Sinha US, Pathak YK, Singh A, Kapoor AK, Sharma S, et al. Fatal road traffic accidents, study of distribution, nature and type of injury. 2005.

[12]. Khanbhai M, Lutomia MBL. Motorcycle Accident injuries seen at Kakamega Provincial Hospital in Kenya. East Cent Afr J Surg. 2012;17(1):43–46.

[13]. KNBS. 2009 Kenya Population and Housing Census. 2010. Nairobi, Kenya. Kenya National Bureau of Statistics http://statistics.knbs.or.ke/nada/index.php/catalog/55. Accessed 24 November 2014.

[14]. Lamont M, Lee R. Arrive alive: Road safety in Kenya and South Africa. Technol Cult. 2015;56(2):464–488.

[15]. Muthukumar T, Singh Z, Prasad V, Raja T. An epidemiological study of road traffic accidents among patients admitted nin a tertiary care hospital in Puduchery. Int J Community Med Public Health. 2018;5(8):3362–3367.

[16]. Miller B, Goff C, Bammann K, Wild P. Cohort Studies. 2005. Berlin, Germany. Springer.

[17]. Manyara C. Combating Road Traffic Accidents in Kenya: A challenge for an emerging economy. Kenya After. 2016;50:101–122.

[18]. NTSA. Road Safety Status Report 2015. 2016. Nairobi, Kenya. National Transport & Safety Authority.

[19]. Odiwuor W, Nyamusi E, Odero W. Incidence of road traffic crashes and pattern of injuries among commercial motorcyclists in Naivasha Town. Int J Appl Res. 2015;1(11):541–549.

[20]. Olumide A, Owoaje E. Young age as a predictor of poor road safety practices of commercial motorcysclists in Oyo state, Nigeria. Traffic Inj Prev. 2015;16(7):691–697.

[21]. Olusayo A, Bolaji O, Louis O. Road traffic injury immune deluion syndrome among commercial motorcycle riders in Ogbomoso, Nigeria. Glob Adavance Res Jounral Med Med Sci. 2015;4(2):92–97.

[22]. Ogunmodede T, Emeahara E. Influence of demographic variables on the use of road safety information by commercial motorcycle riders in Nigeria. Afr Symp. 2017;15(3):44–51.

[23]. Singoro BW, Wakhungu J, Obiri J, Were E. Causes and Trends of Public Transport Motorcycle Accidents in Bungoma County, Kenya. Int J Multidiscip Acad Res. 2016;4(1):37–42.

[24]. Tumwesigye N, Atuyambe L, Kobusingye O. Factors associated with injuries among commercial motorcyclists: Evidence from matched case control study in Kampala City, Uganda. PLOS ONE. 2016;11.

[25]. WHO. Global status report on road safety 2015. 2015. Geneva, Switzerland. World Health Organization.

[26]. WHO. World Report on Road Traffic Injury Prevention: The global impact. 2009. Geneva, Switzerland. World Health Organization.

[27]. WHO. Global Status Report on Road Safety. 2015. Geneva, Switzerland. WHO Library.