KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE OF CRASH HELMET USE IN THE PREVENTION OF HEAD INJURY AMONG MOTORCYCLISTS IN IFE CENTRAL

ABSTRACT

Motorcycle accidents occur frequently because of interface between the agent, the host and its environment, resulting in fatal consequences. Motorcycle riders have a 34 times risk of death than the drivers of other types of vehicles and eight times more likely to be injured. The non-use of helmet is a specific factor leading to head injuries ensuing from motorcycle crashes. This study aims at discovering the knowledge, attitude, and practices of crash helmet use in the prevention of head injury among motorcyclists in Ife central local government.

The study was a descriptive non-experimental design that utilized random sampling technique to get seventy-five respondents at the randomly selected commercial motorcycle parking points. Self-designed questionnaires utilizing descriptive statistical method were used. Data was analyzed using statistical product for services solution version 16.0.

All the respondents were males, with the majority (34.7%) having had tertiary education. Of the total respondents, 89.3% had good knowledge of crash helmet use. The proportion of motorcyclists, who reported to wear helmet was 88%. However, more than half of them (46.6%) reported to not wear helmet consistently. In addition, 58.7% had a positive attitude to crash helmet use. It is worthy of note that those who agreed regarding the protective ability of helmet against head injury were more likely to wear helmet than those who disagreed.

Based on the findings, commercial motorcyclists in Ife central local government generally have positive attitude towards helmet use, and a positive attitude towards protective ability of helmet against head injuries. High proportions of commercial motorcyclists have adequate knowledge of crash helmet use. In spite of this noteworthy information, the inconsistent use of helmet was evident, whereby majority of commercial motorcyclists wear helmet only on weekdays, or when anticipating meeting a police officer. This may be partially explained by either somewhat weak legal enforcement on helmet use, which may be due to more often unavailability of traffic police in the small roads and rural areas. In view of the results, there is a need to strengthen legal enforcement of helmet wearing and ensuring the availability and accessibility of quality helmet to the majority of commercial motorcyclists. Crash helmets of high quality with improved design to enhance users’ comfort should be made available to the majority, at affordable prices, and continuous organization of programs in which health professionals are able to act as agents involved in educating people with regard to risk prevention behaviours when riding a motorbike is recommended.

ANGER and your HEALTH

Martha had heard many times from ministers of God that anger should be avoided, and even in impossible cases, one should not sin but rather do away with it rapidly. She thought, "well, my feelings are none of your business, old men, you can't turn me into a dummy please. I guess you don't know how people can so much get on one's nerve. Anger is just an expression." Martha was easily irritated, always raging and wouldn't keep her emotions controlled. "People can be so annoying, foolish holiness my foot," her favourite statement was. Few years after, Martha came down with stroke, with half of her body paralysed.

                Anger is experienced in the body as well as in the mind. Emotions begin inside two almond-shaped structures in our brains, called the amygdala, which gets us reacting before the cortex (brain part responsible for thought and judgment) is able to check on the reasonableness of our reaction. As you become angry, your muscles tense, neurotransmitter known as catecholamines are released in the brain, blood pressure rises, and rate of breathing increases. Subsequently, additional neurotransmitters and hormones (including adrenaline and noradrenaline) are released, which trigger a lasting state of arousal.

                The adrenaline-caused arousal that occurs during anger lasts a very long time (many hours, sometimes days). Although, we do calm down, it takes a very long time for us to return to our resting state.

Effects of anger include:

•   Headache
•  Insomnia 
•  Digestion problems, e.g abdominal pain, indigestion
• Increased anxiety
•  Depression
•   Memory problems 
•  High blood pressure
•  Skin problems, such as eczema
•  Heart attack
•  Stroke.

Of course, there are many frustrating situations out there, but you can...

•  Be cautious, don't allow every little thing bother you.
• Take deep breaths when angered.
• Leave the environment or source of anger briefly.
• Exercise or meditate.
• Make positive statements e.g I can handle this, this can't upset my mood, I am a stable person.
• Express yourself, rather than bottle up anger, but be assertive and not aggressive in doing this.
• Let go of things beyond your control. (Let go and let God)

Don't be like Martha, take charge of your emotions today. Anger, as it is, can be very destructive to health.