|
Abstract
|
OBJECTIVE: Motor vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of death for teens. Risk-taking behavior is known to contribute to fatal crashes in young drivers and occupants. The objective of this study was to analyze behaviors that influence the risk of crash injury in Latino adolescent males.
Method: The Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) is a multistage cluster sample of students in U.S. public and private high schools, with oversampling of Hispanics. Among other risk behavior topics, three questions are directly related to motor vehicle occupant crash injuries: use of seat belts, riding with a driver who had been drinking, and driving
when drinking. Analysis was restricted to Hispanic and non- Hispanic Whites age ≥15 (n=8,520). Data were analyzed using Stata survey procedures that account for survey weights and clustering. Differences between groups were tested using linear regression, controlling for age, with post-estimation tests to compare Hispanic males to Hispanic females and to non-Hispanic White males.
Results: Thirteen percent of male Hispanics in this age group reported that they rarely or never wore a seat belt. The percentage of those who rarely or never wore a seat belt was 4% higher for male Hispanics than for female Hispanics. Thirty-eight percent of male Hispanics age 15-18 years reported riding in the preceding 30 days with a driver who had been drinking (35% of those 15 yrs, 42% of those 18 yrs). The percent who rode with a drinking driver was 11% higher for male Hispanics than for male non-Hispanics. Fifteen percent of male Hispanics reported driving when drinking in the preceding 30 days (9% of 15 yrs. and 24% of 18 yrs). The percent who drove when drinking was 8% higher for male Hispanics than for female Hispanic.
Conclusion: While Latino adolescent males are subjected
to the risk of crash injury by their own behavior, the data suggests that they are also subjected to significant risk by their willingness to ride with impaired drivers. These findings have implications for ED-based interventions.
Language: en |