Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the socio-demographic characteristics of boda bodas,
the level of awareness of helmet use and risk factors associated with boda boda
accidents among riders in Fort Portal City. The study was limited only to boda-boda
riders from Fort Portal City. The cross-sectional study design was employed to suit
the study using questionnaires as a data collection tool, data collected and analysis
done using SPSS 273. Boda boda cyclists were sampled at different stages in fort portal
city, it was found that 98.9% were male and 1.1% female. Majority of the participants
56.4% were aged between 21 to 30 years, 32.6% between 31 to 40 years, and 9.9% below
20 years while the minority1.1% between 41 to 50 years. Majority 42.1% attended
secondary, 28.6% primary, and 27.8% tertiary while the minority 1.5% attended up to
university level. It was also found that 74.0% owned motorcycles while 26.0% did not.
The majority of 49.1% of the cyclists had invested in agriculture, 28.2% in business,
11.4% in tailoring, 3.3% education sector and 8.1% in other ventures. The majority 87.9%
also had a history of being involved in a road traffic accident while the minority 12.1%
had no history, the reason for the accidents differed from one boda boda to another with
the majority 54.6% happening because of over speeding, 11.7% drinking and riding,
10.8% driving while tired, 7.1% poor brakes, 3.8% using a mobile phone, 2.9% associated
with poor roads and 10.7% others. Awareness about advantages of a helmet after scoring
them it was found that the majority 75.9% were not aware, 21.5% moderately aware while
only 2.6% were aware of the advantages of a helmet. The majority of the boda-boda riders
in fort portal city are men, have at least attended secondary, are in their third decade of
age, have been in this business for at least six years but less than ten years and own
motorcycles.