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

Abstract #64686

Nathaniel C. Briggs, MD, MSc¹, Otis Cosby, MD, MSPH², and Robert S. Levine, MD¹. (1) Division of Preventive Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Meharry Medical College, 1005 D.B. Todd Jr. Blvd. - Box 52A, Nashville, TN 37208, 615-327-6782, nbriggs@mmc.edu, (2) Division of Occupational Medicine, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Meharry Medical College, 1005 Dr DB Todd Jr Blvd, Nashville, TN 37203

A tremendous disparity exists in rates of seatbelt use among African Americans (AAs), compared with Whites (Ws). AA children and AA men in the young adult age group are the subpopulations for whom preventive interventions have usually been targeted. However, the possibility of racial disparities in seatbelt use among elderly AAs has received little attention. We determined age- and gender-stratified race-specific proportions of traffic fatalities associated with seatbelt use using year 2000 population-based data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS); FARS contains data on all fatal crashes in the U.S. since 1975, but data on race were not collected until 1999. In the 16-29 age group, seatbelt use was significantly less frequent among AA vs. W men (AA=19%, W=25%; p<0.01) and AA vs. W women (AA=34%, W=42%, p=0.01). In the 30-64 age group, seatbelt use was comparable for AA and W men (AA=29%, W=28%; p=ns), and AA and W women (AA=43%, W=46%; p=ns). In the >=65 age group, 67% of W women had worn seatbelts, compared with 43% of AA women (p<0.0001), and 53% of W men had worn seatbelts, compared with 40% of AA men (p=0.001). The latter finding was unexpected. Because adults aged >=65 have higher seatbelt use rates than other age groups, the elderly are not considered an important subpopulation for related preventive health interventions. However, the results of this preliminary analysis indicate that elderly AAs comprise a high-risk group of motorists who should not be overlooked in campaigns to promote seatbelt use.

Learning Objectives:

• State the approximate magnitude of increased morbidity and mortality among African Americans that is attributable to racial disparities in rates of seatbelt use;
• Identify the two subpopulations of African Americans for whom preventive interventions to promote seatbelt use have usually been developed;
• Explain why the elderly have often been overlooked in public health campaigns to promote seatbelt use; 4a. Name the most definitive source of population-based data on traffic fatalities in the U.S.; 4b. Explain why this database could not be used to investigate racial disparities in the association between seatbelt use and traffic fatalities until 1999.

Keywords: African American, 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.