The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #71280

Rebecca Smith, MSPH, Traumalink, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 34th and Civic Center Blv, 3535 Traumalink, 10th floor, Philadelphia, PA 19104, 215.590.4376, smithbec@email.chop.edu, Irene Chen, PhD, TraumaLink, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 10th Floor, 3535 Market St., Philadelphia, PA 19104, Edith M. Simpson, RN, PhD, School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, 420 Guardian Drive, Philadelphia, PA 19104, and Flaura K. Winston, MD, PhD, TraumaLink, 34th & Civic Center Blvd, 3535 Traumalink- 10th Fl, Philadelphia, PA 19104.

Purpose: To identify populations at risk of not using booster seats for children age 4 to 8 years old. Methods: This study was performed as part of the Partners for Child Passenger Safety project, an ongoing, child-specific crash surveillance system that links insurance claims data to telephone survey and crash investigation data. All crashes occurring between 12/1/00 and 5/31/02, involving a child occupant between 4 to 8 years of age riding in a model year 1990 or newer vehicle reported to State Farm Insurance Companies from 15 states and Washington, DC, were eligible for this study. A probability sample of eligible crashes was selected for a telephone survey with the driver of the vehicle using a previously validated instrument. The study sample was weighted according to each subject’s probability of selection, with analysis conducted on the weighted sample. Descriptive statistics and multivariate analyses were performed. Results: The weighted study sample consisted of 1,301 children between 4 to 8 years old, 13.6% of which were using a booster seat at the time of the crash. Multivariate analysis showed that three groups were less likely to use booster seats to restrain their children: African American drivers [OR(95%CI)=0.29(0.09-0.88)], drivers with lower levels of education [high school or less, OR(95%CI)=0.53(0.28-0.98)] and drivers with lower income [<$40,000, OR(95%CI)=0.46(0.25-0.87)]. Conclusions: These findings suggest that intervention strategies to increase booster seat use need to be targeted at African Americans, low income, and low education groups. Further research is needed to determine reasons for non-use among these groups.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify groups at risk of not using booster seats for children age 4-8 years old.
• Recognize differences in booster seat use by child's age.
• Identify possible interventions that could be developed.
• Discuss strategies for further exploration into why the at-risk groups don't use booster seats for their child passengers age 4 to 8 years old.

Keywords: Children, 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.