3044.0: Monday, October 22, 2001 - Board 4

Abstract #23444

Child%20passenger%20safety%20and%20children%20with%20nerve,%20muscle,%20or%20bone%20disabilities

Rebecca L. Anderko, MHS1, Dennis R. Durbin, MD, MSCE1, Flaura K. Winston, MD, PhD2, and Edith Simpson3. (1) Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatisitcs, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 423 Guardian Drive, 7th Floor Blockley Hall, Philadelphia, PA 19104, (2) TraumaLink, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 34th Street and Civic Center Boulevard, 3535 TraumaLink, 10th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19104, (3) , , n@a

Inappropriate restraint and front seat occupancy are common and increase crash injury risk for non-disabled children (NDC). Little is known about the restraint practices and crash experience of children with nerve, muscle, or bone disabilities (CNMBD). This study was performed as part of the Partners for Child Passenger Safety project, an on-going, large scale, child-specific crash surveillance system created by linking electronic insurance claims data to telephone survey and crash investigation data. Eligible claims for this study included those with children < 16 years of age riding in model year 1990 or newer vehicles in crashes reported to State Farm Ins. Co. in 15 states between 7/28/99 and 8/31/00. A probability sample of claims was selected for the conduct of a telephone survey with the driver of the vehicle. The study sample was weighted according to each subject's probability of selection to reflect the entire population. 64,879 children involved in 42,126 crashes were enrolled; 950 (1.5%) had a bone, muscle or nerve disability.

 

Children with NMB disabilities

Non-disabled children

Odds Ratio

Front Seat Occupancy

31

24

1.4 (1.2, 1.6)

Restraint Use

95.5

97

1.1 (0.75, 1.7)

Appropriate Restraint

51

55

0.85 (0.75, 0.97)

Risk of Significant Injury

2.4

1.7

1.4 (0.95, 2.18)

CNMBD were more likely to be seated in the front and less likely to be appropriately restrained, thus placing them at increased risk for injury in motor vehicle crashes. It is imperative to ensure back seat occupancy and appropriate restraint for all children, particularly those with disabilities.

Learning Objectives: At%20the%20conclusion%20of%20the%20session,%20the%20participant%20will%20be%20able%20to: %20%201.%20Describe%20restraint%20practices%20of%20children%20with%20nerve,%20muscle,%20or%20bone%20disabilities. %20%202.%20Discuss%20the%20risk%20for%20injury%20in%20motor%20vehicle%20crashes%20for%20children%20with%20nerve,%20muscle,%20or%20bone%20disabilities. %20%203.%20Compare%20restraint%20practices%20and%20risk%20for%20injury%20for%20disabled%20and%20non-disabled%20children.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
Disclosure not received
Relationship: Not Received.

The 129th Annual Meeting of APHA