Conference Abstract | Volume 9, Abstract 009 (ConfProc7) | Published: 30 Mar 2026
Jonathan Elikem Avunyitor1,&, Ephrem Eibinse Akunzule1, Kingsley Kwabena Amoako1, Yesiru Adeyemi Kareem1, Blessing Enorioware Uteh1, Isaac Nyarko Baffoe2, Irene Amedzro3, Joyce Der4, Grace Adjoa Ocansey5, Anthony Baffour Appiah1,6, Delia Bandoh1, Basil Benduri Kaburi1, Joseph Asamoah Frimpong1, Charles Noora Lwanga1, Donne Ameme1,7, Samuel Sackey1, Ernest Kenu1
1Ghana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana, 2Communicable Diseases Surveillance Department, Public Health Division, Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana, 3Public Health Laboratory, Sekondi-Takoradi, Ghana, 4School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana, 5Ashaiman Municipal Hospital, Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana, 6Injury Epidemiology & Prevention Unit, Heidelberg Institute of Global Health Im Neuenheimer Feld 130.3, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany, 7Africa Field Epidemiology Network, Country Office, Accra, Ghana
&Corresponding author: Jonathan Elikem Avunyitor; Ghana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana; Email: jakelikem@ymail.com, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-6634-688X
Received: 29 Aug 2025, Accepted: 28 Oct 2025, Published: 30 Mar 2026
Domain: Non-Communicable Disease Epidemiology
Keywords: Seatbelt use, commercial drivers, road safety, Ghana
©Jonathan Elikem Avunyitor et al Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health (ISSN: 2664-2824). This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution International 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Cite this article: Jonathan Elikem Avunyitor et al. Seatbelt use among commercial drivers at Legon bus stop, Ghana, 2024. Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health. 2025;9(ConfProc7):009. https://doi.org/10.37432/JIEPH-CONFPRO7-0009
Road traffic accidents remain a leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally, with seatbelt use recognised as one of the most effective interventions for reducing crash-related injuries and fatalities. Despite existing legislation mandating seatbelt use in Ghana, compliance rates among commercial drivers remain poorly documented, particularly in high-traffic areas such as university campuses. This study assessed seatbelt use among commercial drivers at the University of Ghana Main Gate bus stop.
A cross-sectional study at the University of Ghana Main Gate bus stop involved 140 commercial drivers using questionnaires and an observational checklist. Data on demographics, vehicle types, seatbelt availability, and usage were collected. Analysis included descriptive statistics and chi-square tests with p-value < 0.05 to assess relationships between variables related to seatbelt compliance.
The study found 97% (136/140) of commercial drivers had seatbelts, but 69% (96/140) did not use them. Discomfort was cited by 49% (47/96) as the main reason for non-usage. The odds of consistently using a seatbelt are 0.32 (95% CI: 0.22 – 0.47). State-owned vehicles demonstrated 83.3% (5/6) compliance rate compared to privately owned taxis and ‘trotros’, which had about 30% usage. Female drivers complied more than male drivers, with 100% (1/1) usage in females, and over 73% (65/89) of drivers with education up to junior high school were less likely to use seatbelts.
The study reveals high seatbelt availability but very low usage among commercial drivers at the University of Ghana Main Gate bus stop, influenced by discomfort in using the seatbelt, non-availability, among others. Demographic differences in compliance underscore the need for targeted, gender- and education-specific interventions. Recommendations include strengthening vehicle inspections, enforcement, safety education, and vehicle-specific regulations. Engaging transport bodies, incentive programs, and technology can aid behaviour change. Continuous monitoring and longitudinal research are essential for evaluating interventions and informing policy development.
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