Seatbelt and child-restraint use in Kazakhstan: attitudes and behaviours of medical university students

Abstract

Traffic fatalities in Kazakhstan increased from 15 to more than 30 per 100 000 between 2001 and 2006. Mortality remains high compared with developed nations. Safety-restraint laws have been enacted, but little data exist regarding usage of seatbelts, particularly among children and passengers. This cross-sectional study surveyed medical university students about attitudes and behaviours regarding seatbelt and child safety-restraint usage. Seatbelts are widely used in the front seat (81%) but not in the back seat (79% 'never' or 'rarely' use a seatbelt in the back seat). Fewer than half reported 'always' or 'almost always' providing restraint for children under 7 years and 24% reported children secure the seatbelts themselves. Safety in the back seat merits attention. Adults generally do not buckle in the back seat despite a law requiring seatbelt use. Promotion of child safety restraints should be prioritised in prevention education for physicians and the community.

An analysis of trends and distribution of the burden of road traffic injuries in Uganda, 2011 to 2015: a retrospective study

“…This leaves child car occupants at greater risk of sustaining injuries while the vehicle is moving, with unacceptably increasing number of deaths. This is quite different from other developed and middle income countries where child restraint use is taken seriously [29,30]. Our study had some limitations.…”

Safety awareness and use of child safety seats among parents after the legislation in Shanghai

“…Injuries and deaths of children in motor vehicle accidents are becoming a global public health problem. 2 Road traffic injuries have become the second most common cause of injuries and deaths for children aged 5–14 years, trailing only infectious diseases. A survey conducted by National Highway Safety Administration (NHISA), USA, has shown that deaths in motor vehicle accidents was the leading cause of death in children in 2017.…”

“…The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that road traffic injuries will become the third most common cause of human health impairment by 2020. Injuries and deaths of children in motor vehicle accidents are becoming a global public health problem 2 . Road traffic injuries have become the second most common cause of injuries and deaths for children aged 5–14 years, trailing only infectious diseases.…”