Prevalence and factors associated with boda-boda morbidity and mortality at Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital
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Date
2019-04
Authors
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Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kampala International University, School of Health Sciences
Abstract
Road traffic accidents are the number nine cause of death worldwide. Due to their affordability and the opportunity they offer towards self-employment, many young Africans have taken up business as boda-boda riders. A business they have delved into without appropriate training on riding, road traffic rules and safety. In Uganda, many cases of motorcycle related accidents have been reported daily. This can be attributed to many factors, among which boda-bodas, being the chief means of transport within and around Fort-Portal town, are ridden by unqualified, drunk and reckless riders. No similar study has been conducted on the magnitude of the problem especially in Fort-Portal. For this reason, the researcher felt that a study on this is warranted and proposed to conduct such a study. The study determined the magnitude of boda-boda related morbidity and mortality among victims attending Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital (FPRRH) and factors associated with boda-boda related accidents. A descriptive questionnaire-based cross-sectional study design was used and it involved 696 boda-boda accident victims. Prevalence of boda-boda accidents was 20% with rider associated factors including lack of training with lack of rider’s permit, riding long hours into the night by male young riders. Common injuries were lower limb, head and upper limb injuries followed by full recovery. The prevalence of boda-boda related injuries at FPRRH surgical wards is the highest of all RTA related injuries. Though lower than other studies conducted previously, this still warrants intervention. The rider-related factors found significant were male sex, age younger than 35 years, riding at night of a motorcycle that did not belong to the rider, lack of use of PPEs, lack of formal riding training and lack of a rider’s permit. Common injuries included lower limb injuries, head injuries and upper limb injuries. Other injuries reported were spinal cord injuries, bruises, abrasions and contusions which were followed mainly by full recovery with no complications
Description
A research report submitted to the Faculty of Clinical Medicine and Dentistry in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of a degree of Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery of Kampala International University
Keywords
Boda-boda accidents, Boda-boda injuries, Morbidity and mortality, Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital (FPRRH)