Exploring child car passenger safety practices in China: experience from a parental survey in Shanghai

Little is known about child passenger safety practice in China. This study aims to describe child passenger seating and restraint practice in Shanghai. Information on 970 children enrolled in five randomly selected kindergartens in the Songjiang and Pudong districts of Shanghai was collected from a parental survey during 2008-2009. The adjusted rate ratios for optimal (rear-seated alone) versus suboptimal seating position (including front-seated or sitting in adult laps) and restraint use versus non-use of restraints among child passengers were evaluated using multivariate binomial regression. Suboptimal seating position (16.9%) and non-use of restraints (60.8%) was common among child passengers. Younger age (≤4 years) and having parents who are licensed drivers decreased the likelihood of being rear-seated alone; whereas having a tertiary-educated mother increased the likelihood of a child being seated optimally. Compared with unlicensed parents, guardian parents who have a driver's licence were more likely to use restraints for their child passengers. This study suggests restraint non-use and suboptimal seating position are common for child passengers in the Songjiang and Pudong districts of Shanghai, and identifies risk factors influencing restraint use and seating position choice for child passengers. There is an urgent need to improve child passenger safety in China and these findings indicate potential targets for educational interventions in the absence of child restraint laws.