Patterns of morbidity and mortality amongst motorcycle riders and their passengers in Benin-City Nigeria: one-year review.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate patterns of morbidity and mortality among bike riders and pillion seat passengers involved in road traffic accidents in Benin-City Nigeria between August 2003-July 2004.


METHODS
A total of Fifty-one bike riders and pillion seat passengers, who participated in this study were part of a larger study, involved in a road traffic accident and were brought to the accident and emergency unit of either the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) or the State Specialist Hospital between August 2002-July 2003.The injured ones were examined and dead patients had an autopsy done on them


RESULTS
A total of 51 cases of bikes riders/pillion seat passenger accidents were recorded representing 18% of total accidents. 35 motorbike riders/pillion seat passengers were struck down by cars (68.6%). Seven bike riders/pillion seat passengers (13.5%) were struck by articulated vehicles. 7 bike riders/pillion seat passengers representing 13.5% of cases were stuck by buses, 2 (3.9%) pillion seat passengers fell of bikes from epilepsies and sustained secondary injuries. Males were more in number with a ratio of 2.5; 1. One hundred percent (100%) or all motorcyclist and their passengers did not use helmets.


CONCLUSIONS
Cars struck down most bike riders and their pillion seat passengers. Males were more than females in number. The commonest autopsy findings as cause of death was intr a-cranial hemorrhage preventable by the use of crash helmets.
Nzegwu
M A
MA
Department of Morbid Anatomy, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria. martin_nze@yahoo.com
Aligbe
J U
JU
Banjo
A A F
AA
Akhiwui
W
W
Nzegwu
C O
CO
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000401:mortality*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006260:Head Protective Devices; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D009049:Motorcycles / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D012306:Risk; D017678:Sex Distribution; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000145:classification / Q000401:mortality*; D055815:Young Adult