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The Prevalence of Helmet Use in Motorcyclists Around the World: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of 5,006,476 Participants Publisher

Summary: Why don’t more motorcyclists wear helmets? A study found only 48.7% globally use helmets, with lower rates in developing countries, highlighting the need for stricter laws. #RoadSafety #HelmetUse

Shool S1 ; Piri SM1 ; Ghodsi Z1, 2 ; Tabrizi R3 ; Amirzadeiranaq MH1, 4 ; Mashayekhi M5 ; Dabbagh Ohadi MA1 ; Mojtabavi K1 ; Abbasnezhad R1 ; Vasighi K6 ; Atlasi R7 ; Ansarimoghaddam A8 ; Taghi Heydari S9 ; Sharifalhoseini M1 Show All Authors
Authors
  1. Shool S1
  2. Piri SM1
  3. Ghodsi Z1, 2
  4. Tabrizi R3
  5. Amirzadeiranaq MH1, 4
  6. Mashayekhi M5
  7. Dabbagh Ohadi MA1
  8. Mojtabavi K1
  9. Abbasnezhad R1
  10. Vasighi K6
  11. Atlasi R7
  12. Ansarimoghaddam A8
  13. Taghi Heydari S9
  14. Sharifalhoseini M1
  15. Shafieian M10
  16. Oreilly G11, 12, 13
  17. Rahimimovaghar V1, 2, 14, 15, 16

Source: International Journal of Injury Control and Safety Promotion Published:2024


Abstract

Road traffic injuries present a significant public health burden, especially in developing countries. This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesized global evidence on motorcycle helmet use prevalence by including 299 records across 249 articles involving 5,006,476 participants from 1982 to 2022. The findings revealed a declining trend in helmet use prevalence over the past four decades, with an overall prevalence of 48.71%. The meta-regression analysis did not find any statistically significant change in the overall prevalence. Subgroup analysis showed higher helmet use prevalence in observation/survey records (54.29%) compared to crashed patient records (44.84%). Riders/Motorcyclists demonstrated a higher likelihood of wearing helmets than passengers in both observation/survey records (62.61 vs. 28.23%) and crashed patient records (47.76 vs. 26.61%). Countries with mandatory helmet use laws had higher helmet usage prevalence compared to those without (52.26 vs. 37.21%). The African continent had the lowest helmet use rates, while Latin America and the Caribbean regions had higher rates. This study provides a comprehensive overview of global helmet use prevalence, emphasizing disparities between high and low-income countries, variations in law enforcement, and trends over four decades. Targeted interventions are necessary to improve helmet-wearing habits, especially among passengers and regions with low usage rates. Effective legislation and awareness campaigns are crucial for promoting helmet use and reducing road traffic injuries burden. © 2024 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
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Experts (# of related papers)
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Vafa Rahimi-Movaghar (6)
Mahdi Sharif-Alhoseini (4)
The Prevalence of Helmet Use in Motorcyclists Around the World: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of 5,006,476 Participants
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