The use of seatbelts and child restraints in three Mexican cities

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

1-18-2013

Journal

International Journal of Injury Control and Safety Promotion

Volume

20

Issue

4

DOI

10.1080/17457300.2012.754477

Keywords

child restraints; injury; LMICs; Mexico; road safety; seatbelts

Abstract

Seatbelts and child restraints can reduce deaths resulting from road traffic crashes, and are one of the risk factors being targeted by the Road Safety in 10 Countries project in Mexico. This study quantifies the prevalence of restraint use in two of the intervention sites (Guadalajara-Zapopan and León) and one comparison site (Cuernavaca). Three rounds of roadside observations were conducted between November 2010 and January 2012. The overall prevalence of seatbelt use was 45.0% (95% CI = 44.3-45.7) amongst all occupants ≥10 years of age in the three cities. Child restraint use in children <5 years of age ranged from 7.9 to 17.4%. Two rounds of surveys were administered to all road traffic injury (RTI) victims presenting at a tertiary hospital in each city; RTI victims had lower seatbelt use than the general population (31% vs 42%, p = 0.037). This study demonstrates the need for further targeted intervention to increase use of these highly efficacious safety devices in Mexico. © 2013 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.

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