Factors affecting the use of helmets among motorcyclists in Ardabil city 2019

According to WHO reports, Iran has been recognized as one of the countries with the highest cases of traffic accidents and mortalities (75 deaths per 100,000 vehicles). Since 51% of accidents in Iran related to Motorcyclists using helmets can reduce the rate of death and head injury in motorcycle accidents. Hence, this study was to determine the factors affecting the use of helmets among motorcyclists in Ardabil, Iran.

In this cross-sectional study data were collected by a questioner from 350 motorcycle riders chosen through random cluster sampling in the Ardabil . Descriptive and analytical
analysis (the Chi-Square and Regression logistic tests) were done in SPSS20.

44 people (12.6%) used helmets (were in action and maintenance stage) 249 people (71.2%) were in passive (pre-contemplation and contemplation) stage. There was a significant relation between age and SOC (p= 0.008), marital status and SOC (p= 0.04). Ordinal regression revealed that pros (β= 0.097), (p=0.001) and behavioral process of change (β= 0.041), (p=0.001) were the strongest predictors of helmet use. As well negative Affect situation (β= 0.096), (p=0.019) was the strongest predictor in increasing
temptation and decreasing self-efficacy to wearing a helmet.

According to the result of this study, the percentage of the population using the motorcycle helmet was low. Considering a significant percentage of the study population were in the Preparation stage to wear a helmet,It is necessary to focus on both police enforcement and Increasing behavioral process of change score such as stimulus control, counter conditioning and social libration for the improvement of their behaviors for accepting social norms also giving further safety education