시군구 단위 자전거 헬멧 착용률과 자전거 사고율의 연관성

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this ecological study was to identify the associations between bicycle helmet use rate and cyclist accident indices. Methods: Correlation analyses were done using secondary data downloaded from population census (2010 and 2015) from Statistics Korea, community health surveys from Korea Center for Disease Control, and Traffic Accidents Analysis System from Korea Road Traffic Authority. Spearman’s correlation coefficients (rs) were obtained between average bicycle helmet use rate (2010, 2011, 2013, 2014) and annual cyclist accident indices per 100,000 bicycle population (2010-2014) such as cyclist accident rate, cyclist mortality rate, cyclist injury rate, cyclist serious injury rate, cyclist moderate injury rate, and cyclist minor injury rate at the municipal level of si, gun, and gu (n=217). Spearman’s partial correlation analyses to control for proportion (%) of population aged ≥ 65, and stratified analyses by quartiles of it were also performed. Results: Spearman’s correlation coefficient and partial correlation coefficient were -0.448 (p<0.01) and -0.147 (p<0.05), respectively, between bicycle helmet use rate and cyclist mortality rate. In the stratified analysis, the negative association was maintained where the proportion of population aged ≥ 65 was between 10.9 and 14.7%. Spearman’s correlation coefficient and partial correlation coefficient were 0.328 (p<0.01) and 0.166 (p<0.05), respectively, between bicycle helmet use rate and cyclist minor injury rate. Conclusions: Local government should implement cycling road safety measures including campaigns to promote helmet use.