Participation in Community-Based Road Safety Program Associated with Motorcycle Helmet Use in Udon Thani Province, Thailand

Abstract

Background: Road traffic fatalities remain a significant cause of premature death in Thailand, with motorcycle
riders comprising the largest proportion of deaths. Helmet use improves road safety outcomes; therefore, it
is important to understand how to improve helmet use. The purpose of this study was to determine whether
community participation in road safety meetings was associated with helmet use and to identify other factors
associated with self-reported helmet use.
Objective: To determine the participation in community-based road safety program associated with
motorcycle helmet use in Udon Thani Province, Thailand
Method: Multivariable logistic regression was used to analyze the association between self-reported
participation in community meetings about road safety and other factors with self-reported helmet use
behaviors among 2,474 motorcycle riders (55.4% female, aged 53.4 ± 12.3 years) in Prachaksinlapakhom
District, Udon Thani province, Thailand.
Results: Regular participation in community road safety meetings (ORadj.=1.61; 95% CI=1.24 to 2.08,
p-value <0.001) was associated with increased self-reported helmet usage. Risk factors for non-compliance
included being female (ORadj.=0.64; 95%CI=0.53 to 0.77, p-value <0.001), elderly (i.e., ?60 years old)
(ORadj.=0.65; 95%CI=0.54 to 0.79, p-value <0.001), and smoking (ORadj.=0.79; 95%CI=0.62 to 0.97,
p-value = 0.029).
Conclusions: Regular community participation was associated with increased self-reported helmet usage
after adjusting for other factors. Further research should assess whether helmet use outcomes improved
following participation in community road safety activities.