Changes in motorcycle-related injuries and deaths after mandatory motorcycle helmet law in a district of Vietnam

Details

• Alternative Title:
  Traffic Inj Prev
• Personal Author:
  Ha, Ninh Thi ; Ederer, David ; Vo, Van Anh Ha ; Van Pham, An ; Mounts, Anthony ; Nolen, Leisha D. ; Sugerman, David
• Description:
  Objective
  
  Our study measured the change in head injuries and deaths among motorcycle users in Cu Chi district, a suburban district of Ho Chi Minh City.
  
  Methods
  
  Hospital records for road traffic injuries (RTIs) were collected from the Cu Chi Trauma Centre and motorcycle-related death records were obtained from mortality registries in commune health offices. Head injury severity was categorized using the Abbreviated Injury Score (AIS). Rate ratios (RRs) were used to compare rates pre- and post-law (2005/2006–2009/2010). Cu Chi's population, stratified by year, age, and sex, was used as the denominator.
  
  Results
  
  Of records identifying the transportation mode at the time of injury, motorcyclists accounted for most injuries (3,035, 87%) and deaths (238, 90%). Head injuries accounted for 70% of motorcycle-related hospitalizations. Helmet use was not recorded in any death records and not in 97% of medical records. Males accounted for most injuries (73%) and deaths (88%). The median age was 28 years and 32 years for injuries and deaths, respectively. Compared to the pre-law period, rates of motorcycle injuries (RR = 0.53; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.49–0.58), head injuries (RR = 0.35; 95% CI, 0.31–0.39), severe head injuries (RR = 0.47; 95% CI, 0.34–0.63), and deaths (RR = 0.69; 95% CI, 0.53–0.89) significantly decreased in the post-law period.
  
  Conclusions
  
  Rates of head injuries and deaths among motorcycle riders decreased significantly after implementation of the mandatory helmet law in Vietnam. To further examine the impact of the motorcycle helmet law, including compliance and helmet quality, further emphasis should be placed on gathering helmet use data from injured motorcyclists.
  
  
• Subjects:
  Accidents, Traffic Adolescent Adult Article Child Child, Preschool Craniocerebral Trauma Female Head Protective Devices Helmets Humans Infant Infant, Newborn Male Middle Aged Mortality Motorcycle Motorcycles Road Traffic Injuries Vietnam Young Adult

  More +
• Source:
  Traffic Inj Prev. 19(1):75-80
• Pubmed ID:
  28448166
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC5659950
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Funding:
  CC999999/ImCDC/Intramural CDC HHS/United States
• Volume:
  19
• Issue:
  1
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:c25aaa5f5eef34261a418612d4a2196e0a49d632691160fe2c2a3b5134e2a55a
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/49368/cdc_49368_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 94.98 KB ]