Sub-Saharan African Journal of Medicine

ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Year
: 2019  |  Volume : 6  |  Issue : 3  |  Page : 111--115

Visual acuity assessment and the knowledge of road safety rules among commercial motorcyclist in Ekpoma town, Southern Nigeria


Innocent O Alenoghena1, N.S. Awunor2, W.A. Ovienra3 
1 Department of Community Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria
2 Department of Community Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Delta State University, Abraka, Abraka, Delta State, Nigeria
3 Department of Ophthalmology, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria

Correspondence Address:
Dr. Innocent O Alenoghena
Department of Community Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State
Nigeria

Introduction: Motorcycle injuries, particularly from low income countries like Africa and Asia contribute significantly to road traffic injuries globally, according to recent estimates by the World Health Organization. Objective: To determine the prevalence of visual acuity disorders, knowledge of road safety rules and one-year prevalence of road crashes in male commercial motorcyclists. Methodology: Male commercial motorcyclists numbering 191 were selected from the motorcycles’ parks in Ekpoma, using a multi-staged random sampling technique. Structured interviewer administered questionnaires were used for data collection. Data were analysed using SPSS version 20. Results: A vast majority 189 (99.0%) of respondents had good visual acuity (with visual acuity of between 6/5 and 6/18), Just one percent of the respondents had poor visual acuity (between 6/24 to 6/60). Most respondents 122 (63%) had a good knowledge of road safety rules while 42.9% had been involved in at least a road traffic crash within a year prior to the survey. Knowledge of road safety rules showed a statistically significant association with the educational status of the respondents (P<0.001), but had no association with other socio demographic variables like age (P=0.184), marital status (P=0.298) and religion (P=0.511) in respondents. Conclusion: Majority of the male motorcyclist had visual acuity within the normal range, knowledge of road safety rules was good among respondents with the level of education identified as a significant predictor of knowledge Inclusion of at least primary school educational qualification as criteria for all motorcyclists and a proper medical examination of prospective motorcyclists before issuance of driver licenses.


How to cite this article:
Alenoghena IO, Awunor N, Ovienra W. Visual acuity assessment and the knowledge of road safety rules among commercial motorcyclist in Ekpoma town, Southern Nigeria.Sub-Saharan Afr J Med 2019;6:111-115


How to cite this URL:
Alenoghena IO, Awunor N, Ovienra W. Visual acuity assessment and the knowledge of road safety rules among commercial motorcyclist in Ekpoma town, Southern Nigeria. Sub-Saharan Afr J Med [serial online] 2019 [cited 2023 Sep 24 ];6:111-115
Available from: https://www.ssajm.org/article.asp?issn=2384-5147;year=2019;volume=6;issue=3;spage=111;epage=115;aulast=Alenoghena;type=0