Economic costs of motorcycle injury among crash-involved commercial motorcyclists in Oyo State, Nigeria.
OBJECTIVE
This study presents the costs of injury from road crashes sustained by commercial motorcyclists in Oyo state, Nigeria.


METHODS
Across-sectional survey of 373 commercial motorcyclists selected using a multi-stage sampling technique was conducted. Information on injury costs for 44 (11.8%) of them who were reportedly involved in a road crash in the 12-month preceding the survey are presented.


RESULTS
The mean age of the 44 crash-involved motorcyclists was 33.6 +/- 9.1 years. Daily income ranged from N300.00 ($2.31) - N1, 500.00 ($11.54). Thirty-three (75.0%) of those involved in crashes sustained injuries and 7 (21.2%) of them were admitted. Common injuries sustained were bruises (75.8%), fractures (12.1%), cuts (6.1%) and burns (6.1%). Median number of days away from work was 14 (range: 1 - 150). Median number of days on admission was 60 (range 7 - 90). The median cost of treatment was N2, 000.00 ($15.38), range: N20.00 (about 16 cents) - N25, 000.00 ($192.31) and this was paid by the injured motorcyclist alone in about 47% of cases. Median productivity costs lost was N7, 000.00 ($53.85), range N300 ($2.31) - N72, 000.00 ($553.85).


CONCLUSIONS
The study showed that the costs of injuries were considerable. Efforts to prevent road crashes must be intensified to reduce the ensuing economic losses.
Department of Institute of Child Health, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. daisyolu@yahoo.co.uk
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Sangowawa
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Owoaje
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Ekanem
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Adekunle
D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000328:Adult; D003132:Commerce; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005102:Health Expenditures; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009049:Motorcycles; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult