• Amos L Benjamin.
• Division of Public Health, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby.
• P N G Med J. 2007 Sep 1;50(3-4):152-6.

AbstractThe aim of this study was to assess the rate of seatbelt use by drivers and front-seat passengers in Port Moresby, 12 years after the seatbelt legislation in 1993. Before the legislation, the rate of seatbelt usage was only 13.3% for drivers and 11.4% for front-seat passengers. Use of seatbelts was assessed by observers at the main city roundabout. 50% of male drivers, 78% of female drivers, 49% of Papua New Guinean drivers and 69% of expatriate drivers wore seatbelts. Among the young drivers (teenagers aged < 20 years) 55% wore seatbelts. Of the front-seat passengers, 37% of males and 58% of females wore seatbelts. Female drivers and female front-seat passengers were more likely to wear seatbelts than males (OR 2.55 [95% CI 1.53-4.23] and 2.34 [95% CI 1.32-4.14]). The front-seat passengers were more likely to be wearing seatbelts if the drivers wore theirs (OR 2.70 [95% CI 1.60-4.55]). Proportionately more drivers and front-seat passengers were wearing seatbelts than during the pre-legislation period, but more seatbelt education and awareness is needed because of the increasing number of road traffic accidents in Papua New Guinea.

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