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

Abstract #68209

Jennifer Greenberg-Seth, MS, Harvard University School of Public Health, Harvard Injury Control Research Center, 677 Huntington Ave, 3rd Floor, Boston, MA 02115, David Hemenway, PhD, Health Policy and Management, Harvard University, 677 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, Susan S. Gallagher, MPH, Education Development Center, Inc., 55 Chapel Street, Newton, MA 02458, Karen Lissy, MPH, Center for Children with Special Needs, Childrens Hospital and Regional Medical Center, PO Box 50020, M/S: S-219, Seattle, WA 98145-5020, 206-987-5246, karen.lissy@seattlechildrens.org, and Julie Ross, MPH, Education Development Center, Inc., Children's Safety Network, 55 Chapel Street, Newton, MA 02458.

This study examined factors associated with child rear seating in two low-income, predominantly Hispanic cities in Massachusetts.

Approximately 500 vehicles carrying child passengers and no adult passengers were observed in parking lots of fast food restaurants and grocery stores. Vehicle drivers were interviewed. Variables under study included driver gender, age, ethnicity, and educational attainment; driver shoulder belt use; driver perception of passenger-side airbag presence; and number and ages of children in the car. Analysis was conducted for the overall sample and for a subset of Hispanic motorists.

Predictors of child rear seating for the overall sample were female drivers (1.6), driver shoulder belt use (OR 1.6), perceived presence of a passenger-side airbag (OR 2.2), and young children (£ 6 years old) (OR 10.1). For the subset of Hispanic motorists, young children (OR 11.4) and driver shoulder belt use (OR 1.6) were predictors of rear seating. Fewer Hispanic motorists drove vehicles with all children in the rear compared with the overall sample (48% v. 56%) and fewer Hispanic drivers wore their seat belt.

Efforts to increase child rear seating should focus on older children, male drivers, and increasing general motor vehicle safety behavior (e.g., seat belt use). Factors associated with rear seating may vary across ethnic groups. Attention to these differences is important in planning countermeasures. Messages should be culturally appropriate and should emphasize driver seat belt use in conjunction with rear seating and the importance of rear seating regardless of the presence of a passenger-side airbag.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify factors associated with child rear seating for a population sample and a sample of Hispanic motorists.
• Apply findings to develop strategies to promote rear seating for children.

Keywords: Motor Vehicles, Hispanic

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.