Incorrect Safety Belt Use during Pregnancy: A Health Education Issue

Abstract

The problem addressed in this study was maternal noncompliance with three safety belt behaviors during pregnancy. The purpose of the study was to assess the scope of noncompliance, delineate factors related to noncompliance, and identify population groups “at risk.” A survey of women (N = 286) during their postpartum hospital stay found a significant increase in safety belt use when pregnant. Yet, approximately one fourth of the sample wore safety belts incorrectly and nearly one third reported times they did not wear a safety belt. Noncompliance was associated with discomfort and/or inability to fasten the belt correctly. Over 90 percent of the sample did not know about or use safety belt extenders. Over half of the respondents did not know pregnant women should be medically assessed following emergency stops. Seventy-five percent of the subjects were not given information regarding safety belt use by a health care provider. One third of the sample had never been told about nor seen correct safety belt use. Incorrect use was found to be related to demographic variables associated with low socioeconomic populations. Three components of Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) were found to be related to the percent of safety belt use during pregnancy: Source of information, Response efficacy, and Response costs.