An observational study of child safety seat use in an international safe community: Tehran, Iran.
Despite strong evidence of the effectiveness of child safety seats in reducing injuries, the use of these devices in some communities is still rare. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of child safety seat use and the factors influencing its use in the safe community of Tehran.



This roadside observational study was conducted in 2015 and 2,178 personal cars with a child under 12 years aboard were observed on Tehran's streets in regard to use of child safety seats. Other variables such as the gender of the driver, driver's age group, type of street, region of municipality, time of day, and day of the week were also collected.



Prevalence of child safety seat use was 4.3% and was significantly higher among women drivers, on freeways, and in municipal regions 1, 4, and 7.



The prevalence of child safety seat use in Tehran as a most populous member of the international safe community was very low and most children commuted in insecure situations in the vehicle. Therefore, it is proposed that plans should be made to increase the use of child safety seats in international safe communities.
a Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology , Faculty of Public Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences , Kerman , Iran.
Marziyeh
M
Moradi
b Environmental Engineering Research Center, School of Public Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences , Kerman , Iran.|c Monash Centre for Occupational & Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University , Melbourne , Australia.
Narges
N
Khanjani
d Neuroscience Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences , Kerman , Iran.
Amir Reza
AR
Nabipour
D000328:Adult; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001336:Automobiles / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D057207:Child Restraint Systems / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D012622:Seat Belts; D012737:Sex Factors; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control
Child safety seat use; Iran; Tehran; observational study; safe community; safety seat