DETERMINANTS OF ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS AMONG CLIENTS OF AUTOMOBILE REPAIR WORKSHOPS IN FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY, ABUJA
DETERMINANTS OF ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS AMONG CLIENTS OF AUTOMOBILE REPAIR WORKSHOPS IN FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY, ABUJA
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Date
2016-12
Authors
AMAN-OLONIYO, ABIMBOLA FOLAKEMI
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Abstract
According to the World Health Organization, about 1.24 million people die every year as a result
of road traffic accidents. Nigeria, like other developing countries, has a high rate of road traffic
accidents, one of the highest accident rates in Africa. The aim of the study was to identify the
determinants of road traffic accidents among clients of automobile repair workshops within the
Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria.
A cross-sectional (retrospective) descriptive study was conducted among those who patronize
randomly selected automobile repair workshops registered under the National Association of
Automobile Technicians, Abuja Chapter with focus on vehicle owners and/or drivers who met
the inclusion criteria for the study. Semi-structured interviewer administered questionnaire was
used to collect socio-demographic data as well as information on driving characteristics,
involvement in accidents and circumstances around such accidents. The data was analyzed using
Epi info version 7. Univariate analysis of human, environmental and vehicular factors
responsible for accidents was done; bivariate analyses were done to determine the odds of
involvement in accidents with respect to modifiable human factors. A p-value of < 0.05 was
considered statistically significant.
A total of 298 respondents were vehicle drivers. Males made up 225 (85.6%) of these. One
hundred and twenty one (40.6%) of the respondents fell within the age group of 30 – 39 years.
The mean age was 35.9+8.6 years. One hundred and twenty two (40.9%) picked phone calls
without hands free device; 188 (63.1%) tuned their radio when driving. A total of 194 (65.1%)
had been involved in an accident in the past, the average age among this group was 37.4+ 8 years
and 166 (85.4%) were males. About 31 (16%) accidents occurred on Mondays and 29 (14.9%)
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on Fridays. Seventeen (8.8%) accidents occurred on Saturdays. Fifty-seven (29.4%), of the
accidents happened in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC). Forty-nine (23.3%) of the
accidents were head on collisions, 43 (22.8%) occurred at night and 38 (19.6%) occurred at Tjunctions.
Twenty-five (12.9%) of the respondents said their brakes failed at the time of the
accident. Age, duration of driving and area council of respondents were significantly associated
with involvement in accidents. Those that read text messages while driving were about 3 times as
likely to be involved in accidents as those that did not; this association was higher among female
drivers. About half (49.5%) of the accidents were severe. Of those involved in accidents, 145
(74.7%) of the drivers had a seatbelt on at the time of the accident. There was no statistically
significant relationship between use of seatbelt and severity of accident.
The study recommends continuous advocacy and sensitization on safe driving including use of
seatbelts and avoidance of phone use. Also, traffic lights or traffic wardens should be deployed
to T- junctions and U-turns.
Description
A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES,
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA IN PART FULFILLMENT OF THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER IN PUBLIC HEALTH (FIELD
EPIDEMIOLOGY)
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY MEDICINE,
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY,
ZARIA
Keywords
DETERMINANTS,, ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS,, CLIENTS,, AUTOMOBILE REPAIR WORKSHOPS,, FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY,, ABUJA