{
  "abstract": "Background Motorcycles are a major source of road traffic injuries, with a preponderance of head injuries (HIs), especially among children and young adults. The reported prevalence of HI among children and young adults ranges between 17% and 67%. This study examined the determinants of motorcycle-related HIs among children and youth in northern Ghana.Methods A case–control study was conducted among children and youth (ages: 1–24 years) with motorcycle injuries seen at a tertiary hospital in northern Ghana. A case was defined as Glasgow Coma Scale<14 and/or head Abbreviated Injury Score>1, while controls were patients with no HI. A questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic, crash and road characteristics data. The determinants of HI were assessed using multivariable logistic regression analysis at p<0.05.Results The proportion of survivors with HI was 52.0%, which was higher in children (<15 years, 57.4%) than in youth (15–24 years, 48.85%). The rate of helmet use was low (24%) and significantly lower in children (17.82%) compared with youth (27.59%). There was an increased odds of HI for non-helmet use among youth (adjusted OR=5.73, 95% CI 2.47 to 13.31) and in the combined group (OR=9.49, 95% CI 4.34 to 20.76).Conclusion Lack of helmet use was the only significant risk factor for HI among youth and the combined group in this study. Motorcycle safety efforts in the study area should emphasise helmet promotion. Injury prevention strategies should enhance riders’ education and enforce road safety regulations, especially on helmet use.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany",
        "Ghana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana"
      ],
      "name": "Anthony Baffour Appiah"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Health Policy, Planning, and Management, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana"
      ],
      "name": "Patricia Akweongo"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Ghana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana"
      ],
      "name": "Samuel Oko Sackey"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Section for Oral Health, Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany"
      ],
      "name": "Michael Lowery Wilson"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany"
      ],
      "name": "Peter Dambach"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Community Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, University of CapeCoast, Cape Coast, Ghana"
      ],
      "name": "Derek Anamaale Tuoyire"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Ghana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana"
      ],
      "name": "Samuel Dapaa"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Ghana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana"
      ],
      "name": "John Tengey"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Surgery, Schoolof Medical Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana"
      ],
      "name": "Peter Donkor"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Centre, Harborview Medical Centre, Seattle, Washington, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Charles Mock"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Determinants of motorcycle-related head injuries among children and youth: an unmatched case–control study in northern Ghana",
  "uid": "cf467a66-f546-5c44-ad64-a263f54ba250"
}