[Safety belt use and severity of injuries in traffic accidents].
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the association between the severity of car accident injuries and the use of safety belts.


METHODS
The unit of observation and analysis was car drivers in the Mexico-Cuernavaca toll highway. Variables included were those of car drivers, the vehicles and the physical environment at the accident site. Statistical analysis was carried out by means of chi square, odds ratios, 95% confidence intervals and logistic regression. Data was collected in 422 questionnaires for 324 accident events.


RESULTS
There were 177 injured people, including 12 deaths, with rates of 67.5 injuries and 4.58 deaths per 10 000 kilometers driven. Variables associated with not using a safety belt (p < 0.05) were: alcohol drinking, vehicle size, night-time and road section. Risk factors for severe injuries were: not using a safety belt (raw OR 4.9, 95% CI 2.2-10.8, adjusted OR 2.94, 95% CI 1.13-7.66); age < 25 years (OR 3.6, 95% CI 1.0-12.7) and > 54 (OR 6.0, 95% CI 1.4-25.0); alcohol drinking (OR 10.8, 95% CI 3.8-30.4); and night time (OR 2.8, 95% CI 1.4-5.8).


CONCLUSIONS
Theses findings suggest the need to formulate interventions aimed at enforcing the use of safety belts and prevention of related factors.
Híjar-Medina
M C
MC
Centro de Investigación en Sistemas de Salud, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, México.
Flores-Aldana
M E
ME
López-López
M V
MV
D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012622:Seat Belts; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control
Cinturón de seguridad y gravedad de lesiones en accidentes de tráfico en carretera.