525 Knowledge About Car Safety Seat Usage in Female Population in Eskisehir City Center, Turkey

Abstract

Objective of the study is to get data about mothers' knowledge on car-safety seat usage with a detailed questionnaire. Methods: A total of 1270 questionnaires were obtained from female population aged between 18 and 45 years in Eskisehir city center. Results: 982 of them have ≥1 child and 645 out of them have ≥1 car. 24% of the participants' education levels are higher than high school. Only 65 participants have had a car-safety seat in their car when their child was born. However all of the participants have an idea about the results and number of deaths/year in our country due to car accidents. 1216 participants thought that the correct position is semi fowler. Only 76 out of 986 mothers have correct knowledge about the placement of carsafety seat and were not related with educational level(p>0.05). Mothers between 25-35 years of age have more accurate knowledge according to the mothers ages between 18-25 and 35-45 years(p< 0.01).60 out of 104 participants who have still a car-safety seat, can correctly use it. 18 of total participants know the rule that all infants should always ride rear-facing under one year of age.794 of the mother thought that feeding is possible while their children travel on the car-safety seat. Conclusion: Traffic accidents are the leading cause of death and serious injury for children and adults in Turkey and car-safety seat usage is not a legitimate obligation. The results of this study can be used as a guide for law-makers and educational program directors about safe child travel.