Determinants of road traffic injury among adult motorcyclists in Malé, Maldives

Abstract

© 2014 APJPH. This study investigates the incidence of nonfatal road traffic injuries (RTIs) in Malé, the capital city of the Maldives, and identifies risk factors associated with RTIs. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among young adult motorcyclists in 3 public areas. A total of 350 self-administered questionnaires were distributed to the motorcycle riders who visited the study areas between December 2012 and January 2013. The incidence of RTIs for the previous 12 months was 39.8% among the 294 respondents who returned a completed questionnaire. About half (49.6%) of those were caused by the riders. The majority of riders were male (96.6%). None of the motorcycle riders wore a helmet. RTIs had a significant association with sex, age, and attitude. Young riders were 1.6 times more likely to be involved in an RTI (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.67; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.94-2.95). Having a negative attitude about road safety was a risk factor of RTIs (AOR = 1.84; 95% CI = 1.11-3.03). Based on the results of the present study, it is important to promote safe riding attitudes in young riders.