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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Dennis R. Durbin, MD, MSCE1, Irene Chen, PhD2, Rebecca Cornejo, MHS1, Edith M. Simpson, RN, PhD3, and Flaura K. Winston, MD, PhD4. (1) Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 423 Guardian Drive, Room 711 Blockley Hall, Philadelphia, PA 19104, 215-898-1459, ddurbin@cceb.med.upenn.edu, (2) TraumaLink, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 10th Floor, 3535 Market St., Philadelphia, PA 19104, (3) School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, 420 Guardian Drive, Philadelphia, PA 19104, (4) TraumaLink at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine Div. General Peds., 34th Street and Civic Center Boulevard, 3535 TraumaLink, 10th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19104
BACKGROUND: Current safety guidelines recommend rear seating in vehicles for all children under 13 years. The perceived responsibility of the child for his/her seating position has not previously been investigated as a determinant of front vs. rear seating. METHODS: Data were collected via insurance claim records and a validated telephone survey instrument. A probability sample of crashes involving 4015 child occupants under 16 in three large US regions, 3/1/2000 to 6/30/2001, formed the study sample. Data collected as part of the telephone survey included the seating position of the child, and whether the child (vs. driver/ other adult) decided where he/she would sit. Analyses regarding the effect of child decision-making on seating position were restricted to those cases where the child was the only occupant in the car. RESULTS: 41% of the children were identified as responsible for deciding their seating position and 53% of all children sat in the front seat. Among children under age 4, < 10% were decision-makers, while >75% of children over age 12 decided their seating position. Child decision-makers were more likely to sit in the front seat (OR 4.38, 95%CI 2.55-7.52), though this effect was attenuated when adjusted for age (OR 1.69, 95%CI 0.88- 3.23). CONCLUSIONS: Many children 4 and older are given responsibility for deciding where to sit in the car and these decision-makers are more likely to sit in the front seat. Education regarding the safety benefits of the rear seat must be provided both to parents and children.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, participants will
Keywords: Injury Control, Behavior Based Safety
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Funded by State Farm Insurance Co.