[Adolescent use of helmets moped riders in the city of Gerona, Spain, 2006].
BACKGROUND
Cerebral injuries as a result of craniocerebral trauma are the most frequent cause of death in traffic collisions involving two-wheeled vehicles. In spite of the proven effectiveness of the use of the head protective devices to prevent injuries in the event of traffic collisions, some teenagers and youngsters do not use it. The main goal of this research is to identify the best predictors of helmet use among adolescents.


METHODS
Transversal study of a population of 874 young students of Secondary Education during the academic year 2005-06. The population object of study were students of 3rd and 4th year of the 6 public secondary schools of Gerona and only those present in class in the day of the data capture participated in the study. The participation was 74.6%. The data capture was carried out by means of a self-devised survey. An analysis of hierarchical logistical regression was also carried out.


RESULTS
Predictable variables of helmet use in motorcycle drivers: age (OR=0.56), safety as main reason for its use (OR=0.02), possession of driving license (OR=0.17), peer influence (OR=0.23) and family influence (OR=0.17). In passengers: age (OR=0.46), peer influence (OR=0.35) and safety as main reason for its use (OR=0.38).


CONCLUSIONS
The variables that predict the use of the helmet in the motorcycles users are: age, being in possession of the license to drive motorcycles, wearing the helmet as a safety device and social reinforcement (friends and family).
Pumarola
Concepció Fuentes
CF
Departamento de Enfermería, Universidad de Girona, Girona, España. concepcio.fuentes@udg.edu
Pérez
M Eugenia Gras
ME
Font-Mayolas
Silvia
S
Noguer
Carme Bertran
CB
Ferrando
David Ballester
DB
Canal
Dolors Juvinyà
DJ
D000293:Adolescent; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006260:Head Protective Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009049:Motorcycles; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires