Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of booster seat misuse in a Canadian province and identify determinants of non-use.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study using parking lot interviews and in-vehicle restraint inspections by trained staff was conducted at 67 randomly selected childcare centres across Alberta. Only booster-eligible children were included in this analysis. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) are reported using unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression.
RESULTS: Overall, 23% of children were not in a booster seat, and in 31.8% of cases there was evidence of at least one misuse. Non-use increased significantly by age, from 22.2% for children 2 years of age to 47.8% for children 7 years of age (p = 0.02). Children who were at significantly increased risk of booster seat non-use were those in vehicles with drivers who could not recall the booster seat to seatbelt transition point (OR: 4.54; 95% CI: 2.05–10.06) or drivers who were under the age of 30 (OR: 3.54; 95% CI: 1.45–8.62). A front row seating position was also associated with significantly higher risk of non-use (OR: 18.00; 95% CI: 2.78–11 6.56). Children in vehicles with grandparent drivers exhibited significantly decreased risk of booster seat non-use (OR: 0.21; 95% CI: 0.05–0.85).
CONCLUSION: Messaging should continue to stress that the front seat is not a safe place for any child under the age of 9 as well as remind drivers of the booster seat to seatbelt transition point, with additional emphasis placed on appealing to parents under the age of 30. Future research should focus on the most effective means of communicating booster seat information to this group. Enacting mandatory booster seat legislation would be an important step to increase both awareness and proper use of booster seats in Alberta.
Key words: Child restraint systems, seatbelts, booster seats, car seats
Résumé
OBJECTIF: Déterminer la prévalence du mésusage des sièges d’appoint dans une province canadienne et repérer les déterminants de leur non-utilisation.
MÉTHODE: Dans 67 centres de la petite enfance sélectionnés au hasard en Alberta, nous avons mené une étude transversale comportant des entretiens dans les parcs de stationnement et des inspections des ensembles de retenue dans les véhicules par du personnel formé. Seuls les enfants ayant besoin d’un siège d’appoint ont été inclus dans l’analyse. Les rapports de cotes (RC) et les intervalles de confiance de 95 % (IC) obtenus par régression logistique ajustée et non ajustée sont indiqués.
RÉSULTATS: Globalement, 23 % des enfants n’étaient pas dans un siège d’appoint, et dans 31,8% des cas, il y avait des signes d’au moins un mésusage du siège. La non-utilisation augmentait de façon significative avec l’âge, passant de 22,2 % pour les enfants de 2 ans à 47,8 % pour les enfants de 7 ans (p = 0,02). Les enfants qui étaient significativement plus à risque de non-utilisation d’un siège d’appoint étaient ceux dans les véhicules dont le conducteur ne se souvenait pas du point de passage du siège d’appoint à la ceinture de sécurité (RC: 4,54; IC de 95 %: 2,05–10,06) ou dont le conducteur avait moins de 30 ans (RC: 3,54; IC de 95 %: 1,45–8,62). La place de l’enfant sur le siège avant était aussi associée à un risque sensiblement plus élevé de non-utilisation (RC: 18,00; IC de 95 %: 2,78–11 6,56). Les enfants dans les véhicules conduits par un grand-parent présentaient un risque sensiblement moins élevé de non-utilisation du siège d’appoint (RC: 0,21; IC de 95 %: 0,05–0,85).
CONCLUSION: Dans les messages, il faut continuer à souligner que le siège avant n’est pas un endroit sûr pour les enfants de moins de 9 ans, rappeler aux conducteurs quel est le point de passage du siège d’appoint à la ceinture de sécurité, et s’adresser en particulier aux parents de moins de 30 ans. Les études futures devraient porter sur les moyens le plus efficaces de communiquer l’information sur les sièges d’appoint à ce groupe. L’adoption de mesures législatives obligatoires sur les sièges d’appoint serait un pas important pour accroître la sensibilisation et l’utilisation correcte des sièges d’appoint en Alberta.
Mots clés: systèmes de retenue pour enfant, ceintures de sécurité sièges d’appoint, sièges d’auto
Footnotes
Conflict of Interest: None to declare.
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