Evaluation of knowledge level regarding trafÏc safety among adolescents in Ulaanbaatar

Abstract

Introduction: At the international level, trafÏc accidents are one of the leading causes of death among children and youth aged 5-29, and by 2030, trafÏc accidents are expected to be one of the top five causes of death in the general population. In Mongolia, 2019, total of 819 children were involved in trafÏc accident, 49 of them died and 770 of them were injured. Objectives: We aimed to evaluate knowledge and attitude of adolescents regarding trafÏc safety. Material and methods: Total of 1061 students who were 5-12th grade from General education schools of Khan-Uul, Songinokhairkhan, Sukhbaatar, Bayanzurkh and Chingeltey district at Ulaanbaatar were included by randomized method in the study. Moreover, questionnaire consists of 39 items were used to collect data and statistical analysis was made by SPSS 22 software. Results: Female students were equal to 60%(637) of total 1061 students. Furthermore, 73.3%(778) of them were studying at 5-9th grade. Major part of participants’ parents earned high school and higher education. Participants were highly aware of trafÏc signs and 99.3%; 56%; 96.5% and 93.3% were aware of trafÏc lights such as red and green, pedestrian sign, no pedestrian sign, school zone sign and bicycle trafÏc sign, respectively. Moreover, 97.3% of participants were aware of fastening seat belts while on the road and 958(90.3%) of them were aware of wearing protective gear while riding bicycle. Conclusion: Although information level regarding trafÏc signs and importance of wearing protective gear and fastening seat belts was higher among adolescents, in comparison with females, the level of the knowledge was lower among males.