Modeling of Communication Strategies for Reducing Public Road Accidents Involving Two-Wheel Motorized Vehicles in Urban Areas: Case of Cotonou and Parakou Cities in Benin

Abstract

<i>Introduction</i>: Road accidents are one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the world. To reduce their scale, some approaches have been favored, such as communication actions. This work aimed to propose an integrated model for the effective reduction of road accidents among motorized two-wheeled vehicle drivers (2WD) in urban areas in Benin. <i>Method</i>: This is a cross-sectional and analytical study of road users (n=1497) in Cotonou and Parakou. The data was collected on a mobile phone using CSPro software and analyzed in three stages: descriptive analysis, multivariate analysis for the selection of variables significantly affecting the variable to be explained, and the development of the integrated model using the Multilayer Perceptron Neural Network. <i>Results</i>: The study showed that communication actions, advocacy, contextual interventions, belief, certain individual characteristics of users, were significantly associated with the reduction of road accidents. The communication model that emerges from this is akin to "persuasive engaging" communication. <i>Conclusion</i>: This study demonstrated the importance of using an integrated national communication program to strengthen road safety. To do so, they need to promote respect for the Highway Code by emphasizing the sanctity of human life must be combined with relevant accompanying measures.