Author(s) :

Avwata Marvel Okeroghene.

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Abstract :

ABSTRACT A major public health issue for children is pedestrian injury. This study assessed the role of road safety knowledge and behaviour in injury prevention amongst child pedestrians aged 10-17 years in Port Harcourt. The road safety knowledge and behaviour of the children was assessed using questionnaire. The questionnaire contained sections on personal information, traffic exposure, safety knowledge, pedestrian injury and road behaviour. The study population comprised of public primary and secondary school children. Cross-sectional study design and convenience sampling method was utilized in this study. A total of 550 copies of questionnaires were distributed, out of which 519 copies were retrieved and 510 copies was used for data analysis. Cross-tabulation was used in obtaining descriptive statistical information, while binomial logistic regression was used for the model and hypotheses tests. The results indicated that 23% of the children reported being involved in pedestrian collision, and majority of the injuries were to the upper and lower limbs (73.3%), with 36.3% of the cases involving motorcycles. The results further revealed that children who walk accompanied to school are more at risk for pedestrian injury than children who walk alone to school.. Girls are more at risk than boys for pedestrian injury. Older children (13-17 years) have higher exposure to traffic than younger children and more pedestrian injuries. Increasing child pedestrian safety knowledge and behaviour was associated with a reduction in likelihood of the child involving in pedestrian injury. The results for the research questions shows that age, gender, road safety knowledge, behaviour and supervision does not statistically significantly predict child pedestrian injury in Port Harcourt. Recommendations were made for educational interventions to consider children and motorcyclists in the areas of road safety knowledge and behaviour. Children are to be equipped with reflective school-going materials, road-crossing safety skills and desired behaviour from younger age

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