Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41929905›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in public health2026

Determinants of knowledge and attitudes toward personal protective equipment use among commercial motorcycle riders in a conflict-affected region of Cameroon: implications for road safety in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Chrisantus Eweh Ukah, Nicholas Tendongfor, Alan Hubbard, Elvis A Tanue, Rasheedat Oke, Nahyeni Bassah, Larissa Kumenyuy Yunika, Sandra I McCoy, Claudia Ngeha Ngu, Rebecca Hemono and 4 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in public health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Chrisantus Eweh UkahDepartment of Public Health and Hygiene, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.
Nicholas TendongforDepartment of Public Health and Hygiene, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.
Alan HubbardDivision of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States.
Elvis A TanueDepartment of Public Health and Hygiene, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.
Rasheedat OkeProgram for the Advancement of Surgical Equity, Department of Surgery, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States.
Nahyeni BassahDepartment of Public Health and Hygiene, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.
Larissa Kumenyuy YunikaDepartment of Public Health and Hygiene, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.
Sandra I McCoyDivision of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States.
Claudia Ngeha NguDepartment of Public Health and Hygiene, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.
Rebecca HemonoDivision of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States.
S Ariane ChristieProgram for the Advancement of Surgical Equity, Department of Surgery, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States.
Dickson Shey NsaghaDepartment of Public Health and Hygiene, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.
Alain Chichom-MefireDepartment of Surgery and Specialties, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.
Catherine JuillardProgram for the Advancement of Surgical Equity, Department of Surgery, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Road traffic injuries are a leading cause of death globally, disproportionately affecting motorcyclists in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Personal protective equipment (PPE) such as helmets and visibility materials substantially reduce injury severity, yet their consistent use remains suboptimal in many African settings. In conflict-affected areas, where displacement and informal transport systems are common, safety behaviors may be further compromised. This study examined the determinants of knowledge and attitudes toward PPE use among commercial motorcycle riders in the Limbe and Tiko Health Districts of Cameroon to inform regional road safety interventions. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 499 commercial motorcycle riders aged ≥18 years between May and August 2024. Participants were selected using a multistage sampling approach, and data were collected by trained research assistants through interviewer-administered structured questionnaires at randomly selected motorcycle pick-up points. The questionnaire captured sociodemographic characteristics, riding experience, and PPE knowledge (13 items) and attitudes (9 Likert-scale items). Knowledge and attitude scores were categorized using a 60% threshold. Multivariable logistic regression was applied to identify factors independently associated with good knowledge and positive attitudes. Results: The mean age of participants was 32.2 ± 7.6 years; all were male. Overall, 66.1% had good knowledge and 45.9% had positive attitudes toward PPE use. License ownership (AOR = 1.7; 95% CI: 1.1-2.6) and prior PPE training (AOR = 2.0; 95% CI: 1.4-3.0) were positively associated with knowledge, while internal displacement reduced the odds (AOR = 0.6; 95% CI: 0.4-0.9). Predictors of positive attitudes included license ownership (AOR = 1.8; 95% CI: 1.1-2.8), PPE training (AOR = 1.7; 95% CI: 1.1-2.6), and good knowledge (AOR = 10.4; 95% CI: 6.3-17.3). Internal displacement again reduced the likelihood of positive attitudes (AOR = 0.6; 95% CI: 0.4-0.9). Conclusion: Although knowledge of PPE was relatively high, attitudes remained inadequate, particularly among internally displaced riders. Strengthening motorcycle licensing systems, integrating PPE training into road safety programs, and addressing displacement-related vulnerabilities could improve safety behaviors. Findings from this conflict-affected region of Cameroon provide valuable insights for designing community-based interventions to enhance PPE use and reduce motorcycle-related injuries across Sub-Saharan Africa.

Indexed as

Accidents, TrafficHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeMotorcyclesPersonal Protective EquipmentAdolescentAdultCameroonCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedSafetySurveys and QuestionnairesYoung AdultattitudesCameroondisplacementknowledgemotorcycle safetypersonal protective equipmentroad traffic injurySub-Saharan Africa

Identifiers

PMID41929905
PMCPMC13038897

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.