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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Lawrence J. Cook, MStat1, Lisa K. Hyde, BS1, Harold Weiss, MPH, PhD2, Lenora M. Olson, MA3, and J Michael Dean, MD, MBA4. (1) University of Utah School of Medicine, Intermountain Injury Control Research Center, 615 Arapeen Dr, Suite 202, Salt Lake City, UT 84108-1226, 801.585.9760, larry.cook@hsc.utah.edu, (2) Center for Injury Research and Control, University of Pittsburgh, 200 Lothrop St, Suite B400, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, (3) Intermountain Injury Control Research Center, University of Utah School of Medicine, 615 Arapeen Dr, Suite 202, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, (4) Intermountain Injury Control Research Center, University of Utah, 615 Arapeen Drive, Suite 202, Salt Lake City, UT 84108
Introduction: Motor vehicles crashes (MVC) are the leading cause of injury-related mortality for people ages one to 34. Little is known about the effect on a fetus when a pregnant woman is involved in a MVC. Methods: MVC records, birth and fetal death certificates were probabilistically linked to identify women involved in a MVC during pregnancy between 1992 and 1999. Chi-square tests and logistic regression models were used assess the impact of the crash and seatbelt use on adverse outcomes. Results: There were 322,568 women who gave birth, of which 8,434 (2.6%) were in a crash during pregnancy. No difference was found in the likelihood of having a low birth weight baby, excessive bleeding, or fetal distress between pregnant women wearing seatbelts involved in a crash and pregnant women not involved in a crash. Pregnant women not wearing seatbelts were 1.6 times more likely to have a low birth weight baby (p<0.001), twice as likely to have other excessive bleeding (p=0.0486), and 1.5 times more likely to experience fetal distress (p<0.001) than women who did not crash during pregnancy. Thirty-four (2%) of the 1,947 fetal deaths happened to women who had a crash during pregnancy. Three times the proportion of women not wearing a seatbelt lost their fetus within 10 days of the crash compared to the proportion of women who wore seatbelts (p=0.029). Implications: Results can be used to help obstetricians educate patients about the importance of wearing a seatbelt while riding in or operating a motor vehicle.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this presentation the participant (learner) will be able to
Keywords: Maternal and Child Health, Motor Vehicles
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.