Use of helmets by motorcycle riders and passengers in rural areas of Rabai Sub County, Kilifi County –Kenya

Abstract

Objective:To determine use of helmet among motorcycle riders and passengers in Rural Areas of Rabai Sub county, Kilifi county, KenyaDesign:Cross-sectional descriptive study. Setting: Rabai Sub county, Kilifi, Kenya.Subjects: 478 motorcycle occupantsResults: The occupants were selected from the four Wards in the Sub county.Riders from Rabai 121(57%),Ruruma150(72%),Mwawesa 110(53%) and 119(57%) were from Kambe Ribe.Similar proportion was computed for the Passengers on a 1:1 basis. Helmet use was 31.2% of which high proportion were Riders (88.6%) and the least (11.4%) were Passengers statistical significant (p=,.05). Male occupants had higher use rate (91.3%) while females (8.7%) had the least. Having a driving license and Education Level (p<.05) were significant among riders and passengers respectively.Non use was atributted to Helmet being expensive(60.4%) and not provided with (93.3%) by riders and passengers respectively,this is contrary to the Kenya Traffic Act. Requirements.Based on the study findings weconclude that the use of Helmet differed by motorcycle Occupant.The study therefore recommends the riders to be subjected to subsidized certified driving schools by county governance and consistent advocacy programs on helmet use among motorcycle occupants and further studies to explore gender disaprity in use of helmet