Use profile of protective devices for children in vehicles among patients from a private pediatrics’ clinic

Abstract

Traffic accidents are a serious public health problem. High mortality rates among children and the protection provided by child restraints, justify the need to study the use of preventive equipment, in order to develop strategies to reduce injuries and deaths. This study evaluated the use of children`s restraints and parental knowledge about their correct use. Questionnaires were administered to parents in CORPEL clinic, in Santos Dumont - MG, from May to September, 2004, in a cross-sectional study. 390 parents were interviewed and 101 were excluded. Among the included, 17.3% were less then one year of age; 24.2% were 1 year or over of age but less then four years; and 58.5% were four years old or over. Among those who did not have protective devices (74.1%), 57.4% had the impression the child was old enough to wear a seat belt; 5.5% regarded it as not important; 5.5% believed it was too expensive; and 2% did not know it existed. Among those who had such devices, 56% always used them, but just 33.3% knew the proper use. Therefore, only 8.7% of the children were safely transported. Just 20.7% of the parents knew the correct use of air-bags. The results of this study showed a great flaw in parental knowledge. Educational programs and stricter regulations might have a positive impact on the use of children`s restraints.