Prenatal counseling on seatbelts and reported hospitalizations among pregnant women

PURPOSE. Motor-vehicle injuries are a leading cause of death and the leading cause of hospitalized trauma during pregnancy (Weiss 2001). In 1992, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommended prenatal care providers counsel women on seatbelt use in pregnancy. Characteristics of women reporting receiving prenatal counseling on seatbelt use and the frequency of self-reported hospitalizations will be presented.

METHODS. A secondary analysis was conducted using PRAMS (Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System) data. The analysis was conducted among 15 US states collecting data from 2000 through 2005 and achieving weighted response rates of ≥70% each year. Estimates were calculated using SUDAAN.

RESULTS. Approximately half (51.1%; 95% CI, 50.7%-51.6%) of women receiving prenatal care reported being counseled on seatbelt use. Younger black women with less years of education were most likely to report receiving counseling on seatbelts. Among women receiving prenatal care, 1.2% (95% CI, 1.1%-1.3%) reported being hurt in a car accident and 84.7% (95% CI, 81.6%-87.4%) of those women reported seeking medical care at the hospital or were on bed rest for >2 days. One-fifth of the women (21.2%; 95% CI, 17.8%-24.6%) were hospitalized 1-7 days and 3.0% (95% CI, 1.9%-4.7%) were hospitalized >7 days.

CONCLUSION. Prenatal care providers continue to target seatbelt counseling to women who may be less likely to wear seatbelts. It is recommended that all women receive seatbelt counseling because repeated messages throughout pregnancy reinforces seatbelt use and teaching proper positioning of the seatbelt can improve maternal health and birth outcomes.