CHILDREN'S SEATBELT USAGE: EVIDENCE FROM THE NATIONAL HEALTH INTERVIEW SURVEY

Data from the 1981 Child Health Supplement to the National Health Interview Survey were used to examine relationships between family and child characteristics and regular use of seatbelts or child restraints. Only for a third of children less than 7 years old was regular setbelt use reported. They were more likely to be used for infants and younger children than for older children; for a given child's age, older mothers were more likely to report seatbelt use by their children. Hispanics and Blacks reported lower rates of seatblt use than White non-Hispanics, and usage rates were higher when mothers had more education. In a multivariate analysis, the effects of race, ethnicity, family income, urban residence, and child's age remained. A positive association with reported seatbelt use was found for such health-promoting behaviors as breastfeeding and abstinence from smoking during pregnancy.

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  • Corporate Authors:

    American Public Health Association

    800 I Street, NW
    Washington, DC  United States  20001-3710
  • Authors:
    • Haaga, J
  • Publication Date: 1987

Media Info

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00495910
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
  • Report/Paper Numbers: HS-039 702
  • Files: HSL, USDOT
  • Created Date: Aug 31 1990 12:00AM