Inj Prev

ObjectiveThis paper analyses helmet use before and after implementing Helmets for Kids, a school based helmet distribution and road safety programme in Cambodia.MethodsNine intervention schools (with a total of 6721 students) and four control schools (with a total of 3031 students) were selected using purposive sampling to target schools where students were at high risk of road traffic injury. Eligible schools included those where at least 50% of students commute to school on bicycles or motorcycles, were located on a national road (high traffic density), had few or no street signs nearby, were located in an area with a history of crash injuries and were in a province where other Cambodia Helmet Vaccine Initiative activities occur. Programme\u2019s effectiveness at each school was measured through preintervention and postintervention roadside helmet observations of students as they arrived or left school. Research assistants conducted observations 1\u20132 weeks preintervention, 1\u20132 weeks postintervention, 10\u201312 weeks postintervention and at the end of the school year (3\u20134 months postintervention).ResultsIn intervention schools, observed student helmet use increased from an average of 0.46% at 1\u20132 weeks preintervention to an average of 87.9% at 1\u20132 weeks postintervention, 83.5% at 10\u201312 weeks postintervention and 86.5% at 3\u20134 months postintervention, coinciding with the end of the school year. Increased helmet use was observed in children commuting on bicycle or motorcycle, which showed similar patterns of helmet use. Helmet use remained between 0.35% and 0.70% in control schools throughout the study period.ConclusionsSchool based helmet use programmes that combine helmet provision and road safety education might increase helmet use among children.BACKGROUNDRTCs are among the world\u2019s foremost public health problems with 1.24 million deaths and 20\u201350 million non fatal injuries per year. Road crashes are the eighth leading cause of all deaths globally and the leading cause of death for people aged 15\u201329 years. [1] Without appropriate and prompt interventions, by 2030, road traffic fatalities are expected to increase to nearly 1.9 million deaths annually. [2, 3] Over 90% of road traffic deaths occur in low income and middle income countries, and fatality risk is expected to rise as low income countries motorise. [1, 4]20152019-11-29T00:00:00ZCC999999/ImCDC/Intramural CDC HHS/United States1U50DP001117-01/DP/NCCDPHP CDC HHS/United States26307107PMC68834091043