title: Rates of motorcycle helmet use and reasons for non-use among adults and children in Luang Prabang, Lao People's Democratic Republic.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Motorcycles make up 81 % of the total vehicle population and 74 % of road traffic deaths in Lao PDR. Helmets reduce the risk and severity of injuries resulting from motorcycle accidents by 72 %. Although Lao law mandates motorcycle helmet use among drivers and passengers, the prevalence of helmet use in Luang Prabang, Lao PDR is unknown. This project aimed to measure the prevalence of motorcycle helmet use among riders (i.e., drivers and passengers) in Luang Prabang.
  
  
  METHODS
  An observational survey in Luang Prabang was conducted in February 2015 to measure the prevalence of motorcycle helmet use among drivers and passengers. Additionally, non-helmet wearing riders were surveyed to identify the reasons for helmet non-use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 1632 motorcycle riders observed, only 16.2 % wore helmets. Approximately 29 % of adults wore helmets while less than 1 % of all children wore helmets. When surveyed about attitudes towards helmet use, the majority of adult drivers indicated that they did not like how adult helmets feel or made them look. Additionally, almost half of motorcyclists who did not own child helmets reported that their child was too young to wear a helmet.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our finding that children wear helmets at significantly lower rates compared to adults is consistent with findings from neighboring countries in Southeast Asia. Results of this study have implications for public health campaigns targeting helmet use, especially among children.
authors.affiliation: Lao Friends Hospital for Children, Luang Prabang, Lao, People's Democratic Republic. mfong@uoregon.edu.|Department of Psychology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA. mfong@uoregon.edu.
authors.forename: Michelle C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Fong
authors.affiliation: Lao Friends Hospital for Children, Luang Prabang, Lao, People's Democratic Republic. measelle@uoregon.edu.|Department of Psychology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA. measelle@uoregon.edu.
authors.forename: Jeffrey R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Measelle
authors.affiliation: Lao Friends Hospital for Children, Luang Prabang, Lao, People's Democratic Republic. jessdwyer@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Jessica L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Dwyer
authors.affiliation: Lao Friends Hospital for Children, Luang Prabang, Lao, People's Democratic Republic. eva.maree7@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Yvonne K
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: Lao Friends Hospital for Children, Luang Prabang, Lao, People's Democratic Republic. mobasser@uoregon.edu.|Department of Psychology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA. mobasser@uoregon.edu.
authors.forename: Arian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mobasser
authors.affiliation: Department of General Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, USA. theresa.strong@childrens.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Theresa M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Strong
authors.affiliation: Lao Friends Hospital for Children, Luang Prabang, Lao, People's Democratic Republic. susanne_werner@live.com.
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Werner
authors.affiliation: Lao Friends Hospital for Children, Luang Prabang, Lao, People's Democratic Republic. nursing@fwablaos.org.
authors.forename: Siamphone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ouansavanh
authors.affiliation: Lao Friends Hospital for Children, Luang Prabang, Lao, People's Democratic Republic. nursing@fwablaos.org.
authors.forename: Amphone
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mounmingkham
authors.affiliation: Lao Friends Hospital for Children, Luang Prabang, Lao, People's Democratic Republic. nursing@fwablaos.org.
authors.forename: Mai
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kasuavang
authors.affiliation: Lao Friends Hospital for Children, Luang Prabang, Lao, People's Democratic Republic. nursing@fwablaos.org.
authors.forename: Dalika
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sittiphone
authors.affiliation: Lao Friends Hospital for Children, Luang Prabang, Lao, People's Democratic Republic. nursing@fwablaos.org.
authors.forename: Khamhak
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Phoumesy
authors.affiliation: Lao Friends Hospital for Children, Luang Prabang, Lao, People's Democratic Republic. nursing@fwablaos.org.
authors.forename: Keo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sysaythong
authors.affiliation: Lao Friends Hospital for Children, Luang Prabang, Lao, People's Democratic Republic. nursing@fwablaos.org.
authors.forename: Khauphan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Khantysavath
authors.affiliation: Lao Friends Hospital for Children, Luang Prabang, Lao, People's Democratic Republic. nursing@fwablaos.org.
authors.forename: Somchit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bounnaphone
authors.affiliation: Lao Friends Hospital for Children, Luang Prabang, Lao, People's Democratic Republic. nursing@fwablaos.org.
authors.forename: Amphone
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vilaysom
authors.affiliation: Lao Friends Hospital for Children, Luang Prabang, Lao, People's Democratic Republic. nursing@fwablaos.org.
authors.forename: Sengchanh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Touvachao
authors.affiliation: Lao Friends Hospital for Children, Luang Prabang, Lao, People's Democratic Republic. nursing@fwablaos.org.
authors.forename: Siviengxam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mounmeuangxam
authors.affiliation: Lao Friends Hospital for Children, Luang Prabang, Lao, People's Democratic Republic. nursing@fwablaos.org.
authors.forename: Somchittana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Souralay
authors.affiliation: Lao Friends Hospital for Children, Luang Prabang, Lao, People's Democratic Republic. nursing@fwablaos.org.
authors.forename: Baoher
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lianosay
authors.affiliation: Lao Friends Hospital for Children, Luang Prabang, Lao, People's Democratic Republic. nursing@fwablaos.org.
authors.forename: Thongher
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lia
authors.affiliation: Lao Friends Hospital for Children, Luang Prabang, Lao, People's Democratic Republic. spectorjm@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jonathan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Spector
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006260:Head Protective Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007812:Laos; D008297:Male; D009049:Motorcycles / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D015995:Prevalence