Rates of motorcycle helmet use and reasons for non-use among adults and children in Luang Prabang, Lao People’s Democratic Republic

Only 16.2% of motorcycle riders in Luang Prabang, Lao PDR, wore helmets during an observational survey conducted in February 2015, with adult helmet use at 29% and near-zero compliance among children. The study highlights a significant gap between legal requirements and actual behavior, particularly concerning child safety, as almost half of non-helmet-wearing parents believed their children were too young for helmets. Adults cited discomfort and aesthetics as key barriers to helmet adoption. These findings align with regional trends in Southeast Asia and underscore the need for targeted public health interventions to improve helmet compliance, especially among vulnerable populations like children.

Fong, M. C., Measelle, J. R., Dwyer, J. L., Taylor, Y. K., Mobasser, A., Strong, T. M., Werner, S., Ouansavanh, S., Mounmingkham, A., Kasuavang, M., Sittiphone, D., Phoumesy, K., Sysaythong, K., Khantysavath, K., Bounnaphone, S., Vilaysom, A., Touvachao, S., Mounmeuangxam, S., Souralay, S., et al. (2015). Rates of motorcycle helmet use and reasons for non-use among adults and children in Luang Prabang, Lao People’s Democratic Republic. BMC Public Health, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-015-2304-2