Seat Belt Use Among Hispanic Ethnic Subgroups of National Origin

The available studies comparing seat belt use between Hispanics and non-Hispanics have showed wildly contradictory results. One explanation for these inconsistencies may be that Hispanic subgroups of national origin have been overlooked in previous studies. The current study investigates disparities in seat belt use by Hispanic subgroups of national origin. Data from the US Fatality Analysis Reporting System were used to compare seat belt use among 60,758 non-Hispanic whites and 6879 Hispanics (Mexican American (MA), n = 5175; Central American/South American (CASA), n = 876; Puerto Rican (PR), n = 412; Cuban (CU), n = 416) killed in crashes from 1999–2003. Logistic regression was used to adjust for age, gender, seat belt law, seat position, urban/rural region, and income. Overall adjusted odds ratios for seat belt use among Hispanic subgroups, relative to non-Hispanic whites, were 1.04 for CUs, 1.17 for PRs, 1.33 for MAs, and 1.66 for CASAs. Relative to their non-Hispanic white counterparts, odds ratios among MA and CASA Hispanics were highest for men, younger age groups, drivers, primary law states, rural areas, and lower income quartiles. These findings indicate that among all Hispanic subgroups, seat belt use was at least as prevalent as among non-Hispanic whites. In the CASA and MA subgroups, which have the fastest growing subpopulations of immigrants, seat belt use was significantly more common than among non-Hispanic whites. The findings also confirm that Hispanic subgroup of national origin does appear to be an important determinant of seat belt use and should be considered in future injury epidemiology studies.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/13538047
• Authors:
  • Briggs, N C
  • Schlundt, D G
  • Levine, R S
  • Goldzweig, I A
  • Stinson Jr, N
  • Warren, R C
• Publication Date: 2006-12

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 421-426
• Serial:
  • Injury Prevention
  • Volume: 12
  • Issue Number: 6
  • Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group
  • ISSN: 1353-8047
  • EISSN: 1475-5785
  • Serial URL: http://injuryprevention.bmj.com/

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alternatives analysis; Ethnic groups; Fatalities; Hispanics; Regression analysis; Seat belt use; Seat belts
• Uncontrolled Terms: Odds ratio
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01044757
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Feb 28 2007 9:53PM