Afukaar Francis K, Damsere-Derry James, Ackaah Williams
Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Building and Road Research Institute, Kumasi, Ghana.
J Prev Interv Community. 2010;38(4):280-9. doi: 10.1080/10852352.2010.509020.
We conducted an observational survey of seat belt use to determine the use rate of drivers and front-right passengers of vehicles in Kumasi, Ghana. Unobtrusive observations of seat belt use were made at 41 locations composed of signalized intersections and roundabouts where vehicles come to a halt or slow down considerably. The overall driver seat belt use rate was 17.6% compared to 4.9% for front-right passengers. Driver belt use was 33.2% for private cars, 9.0% for taxis, 8.3% for minibus (trotro), 13.1% for large buses and 9.7% for trucks. Overall seat belt use was higher for female drivers than for male drivers (44.8% versus 16.4%, p < .001), was lowest within the Central Business District (CBD) compared to the outskirts of the city (16.3% versus 21.0%, p < .001) and seat belt use rate increased with age. Passengers belted more often if drivers were belted, but about three-quarters of male passengers and 70-80% of female passengers were unbelted even when drivers were belted. In conclusion, the seat belt use rate was generally low in Kumasi, Ghana, and it is a function of occupant seating position, gender, vehicle type and usage, age group, and location setting. The results provide important preliminary data about seat belt use, particularly among male drivers and commercial vehicle occupant population. The study also suggests the need to develop effective strategies and programs that address low seat belt use in Ghana.
我们开展了一项关于安全带使用情况的观察性调查，以确定加纳库马西市车辆驾驶员和前排右侧乘客的安全带使用率。在由信号灯控制的十字路口和环形交叉路口等41个车辆会停下或大幅减速的地点，对安全带使用情况进行了不引人注意的观察。驾驶员安全带总体使用率为17.6%，而前排右侧乘客的使用率为4.9%。私家车驾驶员安全带使用率为33.2%，出租车为9.0%，小型巴士（特罗特罗）为8.3%，大型巴士为13.1%，卡车为9.7%。女性驾驶员的总体安全带使用率高于男性驾驶员（44.8%对16.4%，p <.001），中央商务区（CBD）的安全带使用率低于城市郊区（16.3%对21.0%，p <.001），且安全带使用率随年龄增长而上升。如果驾驶员系上安全带，乘客系安全带的情况更常见，但即使驾驶员系了安全带，仍有大约四分之三的男性乘客和70 - 80%的女性乘客未系安全带。总之，加纳库马西市的安全带使用率普遍较低，它是乘员座位位置、性别、车辆类型和用途、年龄组以及地点设置的函数。研究结果提供了关于安全带使用情况的重要初步数据，特别是在男性驾驶员和商用车乘员群体中。该研究还表明需要制定有效的策略和计划来解决加纳安全带使用率低的问题。
