Changes in motorcycle-related injuries and deaths after mandatory motorcycle helmet law in a district of Vietnam

ABSTRACT

Objective: Our study measured the change in head injuries and deaths among motorcycle users in Cu Chi district, a suburban district of Ho Chi Minh City.

Methods: Hospital records for road traffic injuries (RTIs) were collected from the Cu Chi Trauma Centre and motorcycle-related death records were obtained from mortality registries in commune health offices. Head injury severity was categorized using the Abbreviated Injury Score (AIS). Rate ratios (RRs) were used to compare rates pre- and post-law (2005/2006–2009/2010). Cu Chi's population, stratified by year, age, and sex, was used as the denominator.

Results: Of records identifying the transportation mode at the time of injury, motorcyclists accounted for most injuries (3,035, 87%) and deaths (238, 90%). Head injuries accounted for 70% of motorcycle-related hospitalizations. Helmet use was not recorded in any death records and not in 97% of medical records. Males accounted for most injuries (73%) and deaths (88%). The median age was 28 years and 32 years for injuries and deaths, respectively. Compared to the pre-law period, rates of motorcycle injuries (RR = 0.53; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.49–0.58), head injuries (RR = 0.35; 95% CI, 0.31–0.39), severe head injuries (RR = 0.47; 95% CI, 0.34–0.63), and deaths (RR = 0.69; 95% CI, 0.53–0.89) significantly decreased in the post-law period.

Conclusions: Rates of head injuries and deaths among motorcycle riders decreased significantly after implementation of the mandatory helmet law in Vietnam. To further examine the impact of the motorcycle helmet law, including compliance and helmet quality, further emphasis should be placed on gathering helmet use data from injured motorcyclists.

KEYWORDS:

• Helmets
• road traffic injuries
• mortality
• motorcycle
• Vietnam

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the students: Thao TT Do, Linh P Dang, Trang TT Nguyen, Phuong TM To and Duong T Hoang for assistance in data collection. We are grateful to the Cu Chi regional hospital and the Cu Chi Preventive Medicine Center for generous support during the study. We also thank Dr. Nhat Duc Phung, Vice Director of the Institute of Public Health and Supervisor of the FETP Fellow for his support in conducting the study. We are grateful to the FETP team in Vietnam for their support during the study.

Funding

This publication was supported by a mini-grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through TEPHINET.