Examining the effect of socio-demographic characteristics of parents on the use of child car safety seat

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of socio-demographic characteristics of parents on the use of the child car safety seat Methods: The data were collected between 07, and 15 April 2014. This is a descriptive study. Study population consisted of a total of 243 children in 2 kindergartens determined by lot. The study was conducted on 112 children of 92 volunteered mothers who had cars, and children aged between 0-9 years. Results: It was determined that 67.9% of the mothers used child car safety seats, 43.8% of them gained their knowledge on child car safety seats from television, newspapers, magazines and commercials, and 92.1% of them who used child car safety seats bought child car safety seats themselves. Also 67.1% of the families specified that they started to use child car safety seat for their children aged 0 month, and 1 year, 39.5% indicated that they have still used the child car safety seat. As reported by the respective percentages of parents 97.4% their child car safety seat was located on the rear seat of their car (97.4%), their child faced forward towards the road while sitting on the child car safety seat (86.8%), they always fasten the child's safety belt (85.5%), they did not change the child car safety seat as the child grew older (59.2%). Conclusion: It was identified that the educational levels of parents were effective on the use of the child car safety seats. Parents who do not use or misuse the child car safety seats may pose dangers to the travel safety of their children.