Critical Care Innovations (Jun 2020)

Seat-belt use and associated factors among drivers and front passengers in the metropolitan city of Peshawar, Pakistan: A cross sectional study.

  • Abdul Khaliq ,
  • Muhammad Naseem Khan,
  • Fayaz Ahmad,
  • Farhad Ali Khattak,
  • Irfan Ullah,
  • Mohammad Akram,
  • Nauman Arif,
  • Zia Ul Haq

DOI
https://doi.org/10.32114/cci.2020.3.2.1.15
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 3, no. 2
pp. 1 – 15

Abstract

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INTRODUCTION: Road traffic accidents is a major public health problem with an estimate to become the ninth leading cause of death worldwide. Pakistan yearly spends around 100 billion rupees on injuries and ranks 5th due to the fatality associated with road traffic accidents. Seat-belt use decreases the fatality amongst drivers and front-seat passengers by around 45–50%. Therefore, the current study was aimed to determine seat belt use among drivers and front passengers and its association of demographic factors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out from October 2016 to March 2017. The city was categorized into five major geographical areas and from each of these areas two roads were randomly selected from the list of the available roads. Data collection was done in the petrol pumps located on these roads and every fifth vehicle interviewed. Data was collected on an adapted tool with information regarding use of seat-belt and socio-demographic factors. Data was analyzed, using STATA version 13.1. RESULTS: A total of 1690 vehicles were interviewed during the time period. Around one third (35.5%) of the drivers were using seat-belt when approached and none of the front passengers. Around three fourth (72.2%) of the drivers reported avoiding fines and penalties as the main reason for using seat-belts. The main reason reported for not wearing seat-belt was embarrassment and was reported by around half of the drivers (45.6%) and front passenger (42.8%). On logistic regression education, type of vehicle and years of experience were independently associated with seat-belt use. Driving experience and education were negatively associated with seat-belt use while the use was less in private cars compared to taxis. CONCLUSIONS: Seat belt use in drivers of the metropolitan city of Peshawar was quite low and ironically was none in the front passengers. Avoiding fines and penalties was the main reason for seat-belt use which was common in taxis. Policy makers and planners should impose regulations and implementation of seat-belt use by all passengers to reduce the morbidity and mortality following road traffic accidents.

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