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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing |
Nicole Holdaway Smith, BS, EpiCenter, Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board, 527 SW Hall Suite 300, Portland, OR 97201, 5032284185, nsmith@npaihb.org
Objectives. Estimate restraint use among Northwest American Indian children age 8 or younger, and determine factors associated with three categories of restraint use.
Methods. We surveyed vehicles in six tribes in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Children were divided into three categories of restraint use: properly restrained, inadequately restrained, and unrestrained. Associations between the three categories of restraint use and child, driver, and vehicle characteristics were analyzed using multinomial logistic regression models for clustered data.
Results. We observed 775 children traveling in 574 vehicles, 41% of who were unrestrained, and 30% of who were inadequately restrained (using a restraint not recommended for the child's age and weight or using the restraint improperly). Proper restraint ranged from 63% among infant seat-eligible to 11% among booster seat-eligible children. Inadequate restraint ranged from 16% among infant seat-eligible to 41% among booster seat-eligible children. Preliminary results suggest that children riding with drivers who were not wearing seatbelts were much more likely to be unrestrained. Parents of the children were more likely to have children properly restrained than non-parent drivers. Children who were inadequately restrained in the vehicle tended to have more child, driver, and vehicle characteristics in common with children who were properly restrained than children who were unrestrained.
Conclusions. The majority of children in these communities are unrestrained and inadequately restrained in motor vehicles. Restraint use was exceedingly low among booster-eligible children and children riding with unrestrained adults. Interventions emphasizing appropriate restraint and enforcement of child passenger safety laws could potentially reduce the risk.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to
Keywords: American Indians, Injury Prevention
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Not Answered
The 134th Annual Meeting & Exposition (November 4-8, 2006) of APHA