Parental awareness and perception for correct use of child occupant restraints in Korea.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the rate of correct use of child occupant restraints (CORs) and to evaluate the parental awareness and perception associated with the use of CORs.


METHODS
A cross-sectional survey using self-report questionnaires was performed at 10 different hospitals. A total of 1573 parents and 2209 of their children 6 years of age or younger were studied.


RESULTS
The overall percentage of parents using CORs or adult seat belt was 57.7 percent. However, only 44.4 percent of those parents, which corresponds to 25.6 percent of all parents recruited, were correctly using the restraints for their children. The overall percentage of children using CORs or adult seat belt was 53 percent. However, the percentage of children correctly using the restraints was 14.3 percent for infants (<12 months of age), 42 percent for children one years old, 43.8 percent for children 2 years old, 28.7 percent for children 3 years old, 18.9 percent for children 4 years old, 13.9 percent for children 5 years old, and 10.5 percent for children 6 years old. The logistic regression analysis revealed that the mother's level of education, number of children in each household, child's age when parents started to use the CORs, and parental awareness about the fine for violation of car seat laws were the most influential variables associated with the correct use of CORs. The rates of correct use of CORs and parental preferences about CORs, respectively, differed by ages of their children. Most parents showed a negative perception of placing children in the front passenger seat. However, many parents were prematurely using adult seat belts for children without realizing the risk of injury.


CONCLUSIONS
More aggressive educational campaigns and increased enforcement of the car seat laws are needed to improve the awareness of parents on the efficacy of CORs.
Yoon
Hye Sun
HS
Department of Pediatrics, Eulji Hospital, Eulji University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Kim
Young Don
YD
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D057207:Child Restraint Systems / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult