an evaluation of factors influencing the use of child car safety seats and safety belts by families presenting to the pediatric emergency department

Introduction: In-car safety precautions are the most important means of protecting children against traffic accident-related death and injury. The purpose of this study was to perform an evaluation of the use of child car seats and safety belts by families presenting to the pediatric emergency department in the province of Adıyaman. Methods: A questionnaire concerning child car seat and safety belt use was administered to the parents of 200 patients presenting to the pediatric emergency department. Those with child safety seats were classified as group 1 and those without as group 2. Results: One hundred-two (51%) of the 200 patients given the questionnaire were included in the study, 38 (37.3%) in group 1 and 64 (62.7) in group 2. The mean age of the parents (mother or father) completing the questionnaire in groups 1 and 2 was 30.2±6 and 35.6±7.8, respectively (p<0.001). The rate of having a child car seat increased in line with the number of children in the family (r=0.381 and p<0.001), use of safety belts when traveling in the vehicle (r=0.286 and p<0.001), awareness of the legal obligation concerning the use of child seats (r=0.342 and p<0.001) and the age of the parents completing the questionnaire (r=0.364 and p<0.001). Conclusion: The levels of child seat and safety belt use in subjects presenting to our hospital emergency department were quite low. This is due to the fact that families do not have enough knowledge of the safety of their children. In this regard, we believe that family trainings to be made by health workers will be the most effective factor in increasing these rates. In addition, reduction of tax on safety equipment can contribute to the increase in the frequency of their use.