Substance Use Among Okada Riders at The Kpone Katamanso Municipality, Greater Accra Region, Ghana.

Abstract

Background: Alcohol and illicit drug usage pose serious concerns to road safety, especially for commercial motor riders popularly known as Okada riders. However, there is limited data within the Ghanaian setting on substance use and its association with the risk of road traffic accidents in Ghana. Aim: This study examined the prevalence of substance use, the most commonly used substances, and association between substance use and the incidence of road traffic accidents, given the growing reliance on motorcycles as a primary mode of transportation, despite their illegal status in Ghana. Method: A quantitative cross-sectional design was used. The study used a multistage sampling technique to select 249 Okada riders and a structured questionnaire was interviewer administered to assess their substance use behaviors and incidence of road traffic accidents in the Kpone Katamanso Municipality. The data obtained was analyzed with Stata 17.0 version. Results: Substance use among commercial motorcycle riders was 66.27% with alcohol being the most common (37.1%), followed by unspecified substances (33.06%), prescribed drugs (16.53%), and marijuana (13.31%). Although variations exist between substance users and non-users in their rates of RTAs, the association was not statistically significant. The rate of RTAs was 41% among the participants but none of the factors had a statistically significant association with the rate of RTA. Conclusion: Substance use is prevalent among Okada riders, especially younger and less experienced individuals. RTAs are common in this population and calls for a more holistic approach involving several stakeholders to address both substance use and RTAs among the riders in the face of government’s attempt to legalize their operations.