TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2016//
TI  - Risky behaviors and helmet use among young adolescent motorcyclists in Southern Thailand
JO  - Traffic injury prevention
A1  - Tongklao, Arunwan
A1  - Jaruratanasirikul, Somchit
A1  - Sriplung, Hutcha
SP  - 80
EP  - 85
VL  - 17
IS  - 1
N2  - BACKGROUND: In Thailand, road-traffic injuries are the leading cause of death of youth ages 15-19 years with 80% of the injuries and deaths from motorcycle accidents. <br><br>OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of child and young adolescent motorcyclists in Hat Yai municipality and their risk behaviors. <br><br>METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted between June 2011 and March 2012 in which 2,471 students, ages 8 to 18 years, recruited from 9 primary and secondary schools in Hat Yai municipality. The questionnaire included questions on being a motorcycle rider or passenger, risky behaviors and helmet use while riding. <br><br>RESULTS: Of the total, 1,573 (63.7%) were riders and 898 (36.3%) were pillion passengers. The majority of the riders younger than 15 years rode their motorcycle mainly only in narrow streets for a short trip. Only 30% of the riders wore a helmet every time they rode a motorcycle. About 10% of the participants riding or being a passenger on a motorcycle had consumed alcohol at least once before riding their motorcycle. Multiple logistic regression analysis found that motorcycle injuries were significantly associated with speeds greater than 60 km/hr, not wearing a helmet while riding and alcohol consumption before riding (odds ratios 1.63, 1.59, and 3.09, respectively). <br><br>CONCLUSION: Nearly two-thirds of young adolescents in Hat Yai municipality were motorcycle riders. These young adolescents were at risk of traffic injuries as more than 50% of them had ridden at high speed, or not worn a helmet while riding, and some of them had consumed alcohol before riding.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1538-9588
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15389588.2015.1045062
ID  - ref1
ER  -