predictive factors influencing helmet usage among motorcyclists: a study at the largest trauma center in southern iran

Objectives: this study aimed to identify factors influencing helmet usage behavior among motorcyclists.methods: a cross-sectional study of injured motorcyclists was conducted at shahid rajaee hospital (shiraz, iran), using the convenience sampling method. data were collected via a structured medical form, and logistic regression with the “backward” technique was applied to identify risk factors associated with helmet use.results: among 147 patients, 139 (94.55%) were un-helmeted, and 8 (5.45%) were helmeted. the mean age of helmeted riders was 41.46±17.44 years, compared to 29.21±12.23 years for un-helmeted riders. after data balancing, key predictors of helmet use included riding before noon (or=10.164, 95% ci [4.543, 22.738]), crashes in urban areas (or=21.740, 95% ci [5.535, 85.383]), absence of head/neck injuries (or=4.549, 95% ci [2.075, 9.970]), absence of facial injuries (or=5.108, 95% ci [1.587, 8.694]).conclusion: these findings could assist policymakers in understanding helmet usage behavior and increasing helmet usage rates. they also support evidence-based strategies to reduce traffic crashes. addressing helmet-related discomfort and enhancing public awareness of helmet benefits could significantly reduce motorcycle-related trauma.