Seat-belt use and non-use in adults in Slovenia

Abstract

Aim:

To identify population groups at risk of non-use of seat belts in front and rear seats in order to enable more focused planning of preventive actions in Slovenia.

Methods:

The national health behaviour survey of 15,379 adults aged 25–64, carried out in 2001; response rate 64 %; 9,043 questionnaires eligible for analysis. The observed outcomes: non-use of seat belts in the front and rear seats. Logistic regression was used for relating gender, age, education level, socio-economic factors and geographical region to the observed outcomes.

Results:

Non-use of seat belts in the front seats: 5.7 %; the highest odds: males (OR_{males vs. females} = 1.89, p < 0.001), aged 25–29 (OR_{25–29 vs. 50–59} = 2.68, p < 0.001), the lowest education level (OR_{uncompleted primary vs. university education} = 2.77, p = 0.001), upper social class (OR_{upper vs. lower} = 3.54, p = 0.0 14), western Slovenia (OR_{western vs. eastern} = 1.31, p = 0.027). Non-use of seat belts in the rear seats: 65.2 %; the highest odds: aged 25–29 (OR_{25–29 vs. 60–64} = 2.83, p < 0.001), vocational (OR_{vocational vs. university education} = 1.36, p = 0.005) and secondary education level (OR_{secondary vs. university education} = 1.36, p = 0.003), western Slovenia (OR_{western vs. eastern} = 1.37, p < 0.001).

Conclusions:

Both observed outcomes are a problem particularly in younger age groups with secondary education level or lower, living in western Slovenia; non-use of seat belts in the front seats also in males and in upper social class.