• A O Sangowawa, E T Owoaje, S E U Ekanem, B Faseru, and B J Adekunle.
• Department of Institute of Child Health, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. daisyolu@yahoo.co.uk
• Afr J Med Med Sci. 2011 Dec 1; 40 (4): 385-91.

ObjectiveThis study presents the costs of injury from road crashes sustained by commercial motorcyclists in Oyo state, Nigeria.MethodsAcross-sectional survey of 373 commercial motorcyclists selected using a multi-stage sampling technique was conducted. Information on injury costs for 44 (11.8%) of them who were reportedly involved in a road crash in the 12-month preceding the survey are presented.ResultsThe mean age of the 44 crash-involved motorcyclists was 33.6 +/- 9.1 years. Daily income ranged from N300.00 ($2.31) - N1, 500.00 ($11.54). Thirty-three (75.0%) of those involved in crashes sustained injuries and 7 (21.2%) of them were admitted. Common injuries sustained were bruises (75.8%), fractures (12.1%), cuts (6.1%) and burns (6.1%). Median number of days away from work was 14 (range: 1 - 150). Median number of days on admission was 60 (range 7 - 90). The median cost of treatment was N2, 000.00 ($15.38), range: N20.00 (about 16 cents) - N25, 000.00 ($192.31) and this was paid by the injured motorcyclist alone in about 47% of cases. Median productivity costs lost was N7, 000.00 ($53.85), range N300 ($2.31) - N72, 000.00 ($553.85).ConclusionThe study showed that the costs of injuries were considerable. Efforts to prevent road crashes must be intensified to reduce the ensuing economic losses.

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