This study investigated the factors associated with the premature graduation into seatbelts for Australian children aged 4û11 years. From 699 child restraint use questionnaires, 195 children were identified as meeting the booster seat heightûweight criteria (height: 100û145 cm and weight: 14û26 kg). Of these children, 44% were correctly traveling in a booster seat, while 56% had been moved prematurely into a seatbelt. A multivariable logistic regression model showed that there were a number of key predictors associated with the premature graduation to seatbelts. For example, children who were moved prematurely into a seatbelt were more likely to be older, have other children travelling in the vehicle and have younger parents compared to children appropriately restrained in a booster seat. In addition, there was a significant interaction between vehicle type and parent's household income. Based on the findings of this study, a number of recommendations are made for strategies to enhance appropriate restraint use for this age group, as well as for future research. (A) Reprinted with permission from Elsevier.
Abstract