Poor awareness of role of helmet to prevent head injury

Abstract

Two wheelers are an inexpensive, popular mode of transportation in India. UN World Health Organization global survey of traffic collisions documented a road fatality rate of 16.6/100,000 people in 2013 in India. One of the major causes was not using the helmet. We did a study to see the reason for not using a helmet while driving 2 wheelers. 500 patients or their attending caregivers who use two-wheeler were included in the study. The purpose of the study was informed to them. After informed consent they filled in a questionnaire. The demographic data and other details were calculated in percentage. 500 subjects completed the questionnaire. Male: Female was 3:1. Average age was 25 + 6 years. 71% had been fined for not using helmets. 63% used both the national and state highway along with the other roads. The average speed was 61 50 km/hour. 61% reported having an accident. Reasons given for not wearing the helmet was look odd(31%),short journey (33%), dislike(29%), spoils hair/sweating(34%), heavy/uncomfortable(23%), cant protect(3%), forget(4%),no place to store after removing(4%), No one else wears it(2%). Our study clearly showed that the 97% felt helmets are protective however had several reasons for not wearing one. According of Ministry of road transport India accidents in the other roads (45.1%) were more than national (29.6%) and state highway (25.3%). Persons killed in road accidents by two-wheelers were 29.8%. Of this, 73.8% did not wear helmets. A high public alert education programme needs to implemented to prevent head injuries and death.