Knowledge, Attitude, Practice, and Associated Factors of First Aid Services Related to Motorcycle Accidents among Motorcycle Drivers in Dilla Town, Southern Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Abstract

Background: First aid is a vital initial step in reducing serious injuries and improving the chances of survival. However, limited literature exists on first aid services among motorcycle drivers in developing countries, including Ethiopia. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, practice, and associated factors related to first aid services for motorcycle accidents among drivers in Dilla town, Southern Ethiopia.

Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from March 15 to April 15, 2023, among randomly selected motorcycle drivers in selected ketenas of Dilla town. Data were entered into EpiData 4.6 and exported to SPSS version 26 for coding, cleaning, and analysis. Binary logistic regression was performed to assess the association between dependent and independent variables, with a p-value of <0.05 considered statistically significant.

Results: A total of 272 respondents participated in the study, with a mean age of 26.21 ± 4.95 years. More than half of the respondents, 149 (54.8%), had good knowledge, and 140 (51.5%) had a positive attitude, while only 109 (40.1%) demonstrated good practice regarding first aid services. After adjusting for confounders, attending college or university (AOR = 3.937; 95% CI: 1.175-13.194) was significantly associated with good knowledge. Being aged ≥33 years (AOR = 4.4; 95% CI: 1.56-12.6) was significantly associated with good practice.

Conclusion: The study found that nearly half of motorcycle drivers in Dilla town had adequate knowledge and positive attitudes toward first aid, but only about two-fifths demonstrated good practice. Higher educational level and older age were significantly associated with good knowledge and practice of first aid, respectively.