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Canadian Journal of Public Health = Revue Canadienne de Santé Publique logoLink to Canadian Journal of Public Health = Revue Canadienne de Santé Publique
. 2002 Sep 1;93(5):368–373. doi: 10.1007/BF03404572

Bicycle Helmet-wearing Variation and Associated Factors in Ontario Teenagers and Adults

Andrew Irvine 113,213, Brian H Rowe 313, Vic Sahai 113,413,✉
PMCID: PMC6979763  PMID: 12353460

Abstract

Background: The incidence of bicycle helmet use and the factors associated with helmet use in Ontario are presented in this study. The Ontario Health Survey (1996), a population-based survey of Ontario residents, was used as the data source.

Methods: As the factors associated with helmet use were found to differ between adults and teens, a separate analysis was performed for each age grouping. A logistic regression model (with Bootstrap confidence intervals — 95%) was used and adjusted odds ratios (OR) are reported.

Results: Of the 7,693 respondents, 41.1% reported wearing their helmets on a regular basis when riding a bicycle. Helmet use was greatest among 12–14 year olds (71.7%) and lowest among those 15–18 years old (33.3%). In teenagers, drinking alcohol (OR: 2.8) and smoking (OR: 4.4) were strongly associated with helmet non-use. In the adult group, female gender (OR: 1.26), higher income (OR: 1.43), higher education (OR: 1.68), nonsmoking status (OR: 2.0) and abstinence from alcohol (1.27) were associated with helmet use. Living in a rural area was also associated with helmet use in the multi-variable analysis.

Conclusion: This study indicates that bicycle helmet non-use is a multifaceted problem and thus any strategy for increasing helmet-wearing rates requires multi-dimensional interventions. The results of this study are discussed within the context of other studies and related to their public health implications.

Footnotes

Acknowledgements: Dr. Rowe’s research is supported by a Canada Institute of Health Research (CIHR) Chair, Ottawa, Ontario. The Northern Health Information Partnership is supported by a grant from the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. The authors thank the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care for providing the data for these analyses.

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