Citation

Louis B, Lewis M. Am. J. Public Health 1997; 87(6): 1044-1045.

Affiliation

Institute for the Study of Child Development, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick 08903, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1997, American Public Health Association)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

9224195

PMCID

PMC1380949

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this project was to increase toddler car seat use in low-income minority families. METHODS: Families from Newark, NJ, were divided into two study groups. Both groups were given car seats; one group also received education regarding car restraint use. Observations were made of car seat use before car seat distribution, immediately after distribution, 4 to 5 months later, and 1 year later. RESULTS: Car seat use increased markedly immediately after distribution and remained high 1 year later, regardless of education. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that distributing car seats results in long-term use among a currently low-use population.