Tweens at risk: examining car safety practices in four economically disadvantaged urban elementary schools in Virginia.
BACKGROUND
Children aged 8- to 12-years-old ("tweens") are at high risk for crash injury, and motor vehicle crashes are their leading cause of death.


METHODS
Data are presented from behavioral observations (N=243), surveys (N=677), and focus groups (N=26) conducted with tweens attending four urban elementary schools in Virginia. The populations assessed were predominantly black (77.9%) and economically disadvantaged (61.9%).


RESULTS
Focus groups revealed a number of inconsistencies in and misconceptions about safety practices. Among the 677 tweens who completed anonymous surveys, the majority (58.1%) reported wearing their seat belts "not very much at all" or "never." Many students (47.8%) reported usually sitting in the front seat or sitting in the front and back seats equally. This is despite the fact that most (92.0%) knew that the back seat was the safest place to sit. Of the 243 tweens observed in vehicles, 65.0% were unrestrained and 60.1% were seated in the front passenger seat.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings of this study shed light on the great disparity between the national rates for child safety practices and those of children living in an economically disadvantaged urban school district. Additional intervention programs that are culturally appropriate and specifically target this age group are needed.
Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia 23510-1001, USA. willke@evms.edu
Kelli England
KE
Will
Krystall E
KE
Dunaway
Edward J
EJ
Lorek
D000293:Adolescent; D001336:Automobiles / Q000592:standards*; D002648:Child; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D012449:Safety / Q000592:standards*; D012574:Schools / Q000145:classification / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012622:Seat Belts / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014768:Virginia; D035862:Vulnerable Populations
children; health disparities; motor vehicle; occupant protection; seat belt