Citation

Li G, Baker SP. Am. J. Public Health 1997; 87(6): 1049-1052.

Affiliation

Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md. 21287, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1997, American Public Health Association)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

9224197

PMCID

PMC1380951

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the morbidity and mortality from bicycling injuries in Wuhan, China. METHODS: Police department data for the year 1993 complemented by data from emergency room interviews were analyzed. RESULTS: The death rate from bicycling injuries was estimated as 2.2 per 100000 population, more than seven times the rate for the United States. At least 79% of the fatalities and 17% of the emergency room cases sustained head injuries, the majority (71%) of which resulted from contact of the head with the concrete or asphalt road. None of the patients was wearing a helmet at the time of injury, and helmet use among the general bicyclist population was nonexistent. CONCLUSIONS: Bicycle-related head injury is an important public health issue in China. The effectiveness of safety helmets in developing countries needs to be evaluated.