METHOD: A naturalistic exploratory un-obstructive observational approach was used in assessing this phenomenon. The relationship between motorcyclists' behaviors and motorcyclists' observed demographic characteristics, the locality of the intersection, time of the week and presence of pillion passengers were analyzed. Chi-Square test of independence was used to establish the statistically significant relationships between dependent and independent variables.
RESULTS: In all, 2,225 motorcyclists and 744 pillion passengers were observed. The results revealed that 33.1% of the motorcyclists ran a red light with 45.4% not using a helmet. Red-light running at signalized intersections was significantly linked to the locality of the intersection, time of the week, and helmet use. The helmet use was low and significantly associated with the presence of a pillion passenger and whether the pillion passenger used a helmet or not.
CONCLUSION: Red-light running is influenced by locality of intersection, time of the week and helmet use. Efforts to reduce red-light running and improve helmet use should involve road safety education, awareness creation, and enforcement of traffic laws by the officials of the National Road Safety Authority and Motor Transport and Traffic Department of the Ghana Police Service. City managers in other low and middle-income countries can use the findings in the study to inform policy.
METHODS: We surveyed four countries to determine the public's understanding of keloids. A quantitative, subjective and cross-sectional street survey was designed using the knowledge, attitudes and practice model principles. The target populations were cities in Ghana, Australia, Canada and England. Surveyors used a hybrid stratified/convenience sampling method. Primary outcomes were prevalence, exposure to keloids as an entity and overall keloid knowledge score compared across demographic groups. Study data have been made fully available for reproducibility and education (https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/3KZ5E).
RESULTS: There were 402 respondents, with a median age of 32 (interquartile range 25-45.25) years, of which 193 were females. The survey was carried out between June 2015 and October 2017. The prevalence of self-identified keloids was 11% in Ghana, 6% in Australia, 2% in Canada and 7% in England. Prevalence, exposure and knowledge were higher in the Ghanaian population.
CONCLUSIONS: There was association between knowledge, prevalence and the exposure to keloids as an entity. Findings may suggest targeting public health campaigns towards populations where knowledge is lowest, and exposure to and prevalence of keloids are the highest.