title: Reducing Motor Vehicle-Related Injuries at an Arizona Indian Reservation: Ten Years of Application of Evidence-Based Strategies.
abstract: Unintentional injury is a significant public health burden for American Indians and Alaska Natives and was the leading cause of death among those aged 1 to 44 years between 1999 and 2004. Of those deaths, motor vehicle-related deaths cause the most mortality, justifying the need for intervention at an American Indian Reservation in Arizona (United States). We describe motor vehicle injury prevention program operations from 2004 through 2013. This community-based approach led by a multidisciplinary team primarily comprised of environmental public health and law enforcement personnel implemented evidence-based strategies to reduce the impact of motor vehicle-related injuries and deaths, focusing on reducing impaired driving and increasing occupant restraint use. Strategies included: mass media campaigns to enhance awareness and outreach; high-visibility sobriety checkpoints; passing and enforcing 0.08% blood alcohol concentration limits for drivers and primary occupant restraint laws; and child car seat distribution and education. Routine monitoring and evaluation data showed a significant 5% to 7% annual reduction of motor vehicle crashes (MVCs), nighttime MVCs, MVCs with injuries/fatalities, and nighttime MVCs with injuries/fatalities between 2004 and 2013, but the annual percent change in arrests for driving under the influence (DUI) was not significant. There was also a 144% increase in driver/front seat passenger seat belt use, from 19% in 2011 before the primary occupant restraint law was enacted to 47% during the first full year of enforcement (2013). Car seat checkpoint data also suggested a 160% increase in car seat use, from less than 20% to 52% in 2013. Implementation of evidence-based strategies in injury prevention, along with employment of key program approaches such as strong partnership building, community engagement, and consistent staffing and funding, can narrow the public health disparity gap experienced among American Indian and Alaska Native communities.
authors.affiliation: Phoenix Area Indian Health Service, Lakeside, AZ, USA.
authors.forename: Stephen R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Piontkowski
authors.affiliation: Phoenix Area Indian Health Service, Lakeside, AZ, USA.
authors.forename: Jon S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Peabody
authors.affiliation: San Carlos Police Department, San Carlos, AZ, USA.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Reede
authors.affiliation: Phoenix Area Indian Health Service, Lakeside, AZ, USA.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Velascosoltero
authors.affiliation: California Area Indian Health Service, Sacramento, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Gordon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tsatoke
authors.affiliation: California Area Indian Health Service, Sacramento, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shelhamer
authors.affiliation: Phoenix Area Indian Health Service, Lakeside, AZ, USA.
authors.forename: Kenny R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Hicks
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001130:Arizona; D001334:Automobile Driving; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American; D035846:Law Enforcement; D018986:Motor Vehicles; D011634:Public Health; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012622:Seat Belts; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*