Objective
To investigate the safety riding behaviors among children aged 3-6 years in private cars and understand awareness of safety seat legislation among parents in Huangpu District of Shanghai.
Methods
A total of 1 119 parents of children aged 3-6 years and owning private cars were surveyed by cluster random sampling method in Huangpu District, Shanghai. Information was collected on child passengers' safety riding behaviors, safety seat usage, and parents' awareness of child safety seat knowledge and legislation.
Results
According to the surveyed subjects, 37.6% (421/1 119) children used child safety seats, 33.2% (371/1 119) children used seat belts, and 10.5% (118/1 119) parents reported always holding their children in private cars. The riding behaviors of children across defined age groups were significantly different (χ2=83.811, P=0.000); specifically, 43.2% (251/581) of the 6-year-old children used seat belts. Children also displayed different riding behaviors when riding distances were varied (χ2=5.878, P=0.015); the proportion of children using child safety seats was 31.3% (72/230) when trip distance was less than 3 km. The drivers wearing seat belts and the parents with correct awareness on children's safety of riding cars had higher usage rates of child safety seat, with ORs of 2.604 and 6.744 versus the drivers not wearing seat belts and the parents with wrong awareness, respectively. The awareness rate of the legislation on child safety seat was 28.3% (317/1 119) among parents.
Conclusion
Improper riding behaviors in private cars include children using safety belts at an early age and parents' holding children in Huangpu District of Shanghai. A low usage rate of child safety seat is found. Misunderstandings on child safety riding behavior and seat belt usage are identified in the selected parents. Besides, the awareness rate of child safety seat legislation is low.
DownLoad: