Knowledge, attitude, and determinant factors towards emergency first-aid utilization among public transport service drivers in Injibara, northwest Ethiopia.

Background: Providing timely first-aid by trained responders can reduce deaths and disabilities from road traffic accidents, a leading global cause of death. Ethiopia ranks 19th worldwide and 4th in Africa. Therefore, this study assesses the knowledge and, attitudes toward emergency first aid, and its factors among public transport drivers in Injibara, Ethiopia.

Objective: To assess the Knowledge, and Attitude towards first-aid utilization and its associated factors among Public Transport Service Drivers in Injibara, Northwest Ethiopia, 2023.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 419 public transport drivers, selected systematically based on vehicle side numbers, starting with a random choice for the first respondent. Subsequent participants were chosen at every second interval (k = 2). A structured questionnaire was used to collect relevant data. Binary logistic regression was performed using SPSS V.26 to assess the associations between independent and dependent variables. The strength of these associations was measured using odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals, with a P-value < 0.05 deemed statistically significant.

Result: The study revealed that the prevalence of good knowledge and favorable attitudes toward first-aid utilization was 33.2% and 38.2%, respectively. Participation in first-aid training (AOR = 0.566, p = 0.027), access to a first-aid kit (AOR = 1.65, p = 0.027), and prior experience using first-aid at accident scenes (AOR = 0.476, p = 0.014) were factors associated with better first-aid utilization. Drivers who had used a first-aid kit (AOR = 0.476, p = 0.014) and those exposed to training (AOR = 0.486, p = 0.034) demonstrated more positive attitudes toward first aid.

Conclusion: The knowledge and attitude toward first-aid utilization remain low. Participation in first-aid training, access to first-aid kits, and experience using them during accidents were factors associated with improved knowledge. Additionally, drivers who have used first-aid kits and received training tend to have a favorable attitude toward their use. Therefore, relevant authorities must enhance the availability of first-aid kits, increase the exposure of drivers, and provide training to drivers to increase their knowledge and favorable attitude towards first-aid utilization.

Clinical trial number: Not applicable.