A Hospital-Based Infant Safety Seat Program for Low-Income Families: Assessment of Population Needs and Provider Practices

Abstract

Evaluation of a hospital-based car safety seat education and loan program for low-income families included hospital interviews with new mothers (N = 94), a survey of pediatricians (N = 28), and a task analysis of the program coordinator's time. Mothers who entered the hospital with safety seats were more likely than those without safety seats to (1) be White or Mexican-American than Black; (2) not be dependent on public transportation; (3) have an older child who always rides in a car seat; and (4) wear seat belts themselves. Mothers with seats did not differ from mothers without seats in knowledge or beliefs about the importance of, or intent to use, car seats. Of mothers without seats, 86.3% were aware of the hospital's car seat rental program, but only 12 of 51 rented a seat from the program. 61% of pediatricians surveyed believed that mothers' lack knowledge and skills to acquire and use car seats regularly, but only 31% always included education about the importance of using car seats and only 21% always referred mothers without seats to the rental program. Car seat loan programs addressing low-income populations should place greater emphasis on education of medical providers to provide education and referrals, encourage organizational policy that requires a safe first ride home and address issues of social support and perceived norms and ease of acquisition.

Improvement in Booster Seat Use in Tennessee

“…1 In addition, black subjects of all ages are at increased risk of morbidity and death attributable to motor vehicle crashes, 2-4 presumably because of low rates of restraint use. [5][6][7][8][9][10] Although any restraint use is better than no restraint use, 11,12 the best protection for child passengers is a safety restraint that is appropriate for the age and body size of the child. Studies have demonstrated that appropriate restraint of children includes the use of belt-positioning booster seats for children 4 to 8 years of age who are too big to use forwardfacing car seats with internal harnesses but too small for lap and shoulder belts to fit appropriately.…”