The Trend of Seat Belt Use among Drivers in the North of Iran, 2007-2010: An Epidemiologic Study

Backgrounds and Objectives: Using seat belt has a considerable role in reducing human damage. The aim of this study was to compare trend of seat belt use rate during 4 years, from 2007 to 2010, in Golestan province (northern Iran). Materials and Methods: This was a population-based cross-sectional study that enrolled 3999 subjects aged 15-65 years during four years (2007 = 1000 cases, 2008 = 1000 cases, 2009 = 999 cases and 2010= 1000 cases) using stratified cluster sampling. Interviewers recorded the data using a multidimensional questionnaire including anthropometric indexes. Using seat belt in the case of sitting in the front seat of car (as a driver or passenger) of all samples was asked. SPSS 16.0 software was used for statistical data analysis. Results: The rate of seat belt use in the years 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 were 71%, 69.8%, 74.5 and 86.4%, respectively. Seat belt use during the four years increased up to 15.4%. Statistical differences among four years was significant (P<0.01). The increasing seat belt use rate was 19% and 14.9% in urban and rural areas, respectively. The seat belt use rate was higher in subjects with =35 years old people in proportion to 35= years old people (17.85% versus 14.3%). During the latest year of study, using seat belt was about 14.8% higher in men comparing with women (P<0.05). Conclusion: Using seat belt increased up to 3.9% per year and the trend in the rural areas was lower than in the urban areas. Seat belt used in men more than women. Using seat belt and its growing trend, will help in reducing mortality caused by accidents in Iran.