Results: All commercial motorcyclists were males, with the majority (64.8%) with primary education. The proportion of commercial motorcyclists who reported to wear helmet was 81.3%. However about two thirds of them (67.6%) reported to not wear helmet consistently. Helmet wearing was strongly predicted by having a positive attitude towards helmet for passengers (p=0.005), protective ability of helmet against head injury (p=0.003), wearing helmet during night (p=0.001) and wearing helmet even for the experienced rider (p=0.000). However in a multiple regression model, it was found that those who agreed regarding the protective ability of helmet against head injury were more likely to wear helmet than those who disagreed (AOR: 0.279; 95% CI: 0.086-0.905); those who strongly agreed on wearing helmet during hot weather were more likely to wear helmet than those who disagreed (AOR: 0.039; 95% CI: 0.002-0.698). Those who strongly agreed on necessity for passengers to wear helmet and wearing helmet during night were more likely to wear helmet than those who were undecided (AOR: 0.091; 95% CI: 0.013 0.617 and AOR: 0.114; 95% CI: 0.014-0.931 respectively). Those who had primary education were more likely to wear helmet than those who had no formal education (AOR: 6.146; 95% CI; 1.345-28.097). There was no significant difference in helmet wearing between urban and peri-urban areas (p=0.109). A small majority (52.7%) were observed wearing helmet, although 91.8% of them had no passenger‟s helmet.
Conclusion: These findings indicate that despite the inconsistent helmet wearing, commercial motorcyclists had positive attitude towards helmet wearing. Helmet wearing is associated with the level of education and having a positive attitude towards helmet wearing. There is a high disparity on the observed helmet wearing between riders and passengers. Very few among the later were found to be wearing helmet.