Assessment of the knowledge, attitude, and practices of motorcyclists regarding helmet use in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

Background: Helmet use significantly decreases the risk and severity of head injuries and fatalities resulting from road traffic crashes among motorcyclists. This study assesses the prevalence and factors influencing effective helmet use among motorcyclists in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 560 motorcyclists, employing a simple random sampling technique. Data regarding knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to helmet usage were collected through a pre-tested, structured questionnaire administered by an interviewer. The analysis was performed using IBM SPSS version 21.0. Descriptive statistics were utilized, and socio-demographic information was summarized as a frequency table. A chi-square test was applied for the bivariate analysis of associations between categorical variables. The significance level was established at p < 0.05.

Results: This study of 640 motorcycle riders revealed a significant disparity between knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding helmet usage. Participants demonstrated high overall knowledge (68.1%) and generally positive attitudes (54.4%). However, actual consistent helmet use was considerably lower at 49.2%. Common barriers cited included perceived discomfort, visual obstruction, and helmet cost. While socio-demographic factors did not significantly correlate with knowledge levels, gender showed a notable association with attitude, with male riders expressing more favorable views.

Conclusion: The findings highlight the necessity for targeted interventions to foster positive attitudes and behaviors related to helmet usage among motorcyclists in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.

Keywords: Knowledge; attitude; helmet; motorcycle.