TITLE:
Children Safety Devices in Brazil—Why Do People Don’t Use Them after the Law?
AUTHORS:
S. C. V. Abib, A. M. Françóia, F. Ricci, M. V. B. Cezillo, B. R. Müller
KEYWORDS:
Child Restraint Systems, Wounds and Injuries, Accidents, Traffic, Pediatrics
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Transportation Technologies,
Vol.4 No.3,
July
29,
2014
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Children
safety car devices decrease injuries and death in children. A survey
conducted in Brazil in 2009 revealed that only 36.1% of children safely
transported. In 2010, a Brazilian law was implemented, obligating the use of
safety devices. The aim of this study is to evaluate the use of such devices
after the law and the eventual reasons for non-use. Methods: A significant
sample of Brazilian population aged 18 years or more, which normally carry children until 10 years old answered
a survey between August 16 and 25, 2012. The study was conducted in two phases.
The first one aimed to raise the proportion and profile of the target
population, while the second investigated the children car safety device use (or not). Results: 622
interviews. Children’s transporters are young males (57%), living in a
metropolitan area in the South region, concerned about safety and law
supervision, with greater education level and income than non-transporters
(31%) who are male with lack of information, living in a non-metropolitan area
of the Northeast region that would be motivated to use the device by effective
law fiscalization or threat of an accident. Conclusion: Two years after the law it is
observed that education, income, age, gender and region of origin influence the
use/non-use of the safety seats in Brazil. The accident threat and
fiscalization are the main reasons for using the device, showing that the lack
of information impairs the democratization of its use and the prevention
culture has to be enhanced in the country.