Examining the factors associated with the non-use of seatbelts among drivers and passengers in Ghana

Abstract

Seatbelts stand out as one of the most effective safeguards designed to prevent severe injuries to individuals in vehicular crashes. Nevertheless, a dearth of information exists regarding the factors associated with the non-use of seatbelts in Ghana. Hence, this study investigates the factors that influence the non-use of seatbelts among drivers and passengers in Ghana. A cross-sectional study gathered information from 816 individuals, comprising 273 drivers and 543 passengers. The analysis incorporated descriptive statistics, cross tabulation and Chi-square tests. The research revealed that 60.8 % of drivers and 36.7 % of passengers consistently fasten their seatbelts upon getting into a vehicle. The study also unveiled that several factors contribute to the non-use of seatbelts among drivers, including discomfort, forgetfulness, lack of seatbelt availability, faulty seatbelts, short travel distances, absence of law enforcement, rebellious or libertarian attitudes, vehicle type, feeling odd, gender, and age. Similarly, among passengers, factors such as discomfort, forgetfulness, seatbelt unavailability, short travel distances, lax law enforcement, rebellious or libertarian attitudes, peer pressure, vehicle type, feeling odd, gender, age, and education were identified as influencing non-seatbelt use. This study offers valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders to develop and implement data-driven strategies that promote seatbelt use, ultimately reducing traffic-related injuries and fatalities in Ghana.