361P
The Role of Trust in Improving Child Safety Among First Nation Communities
Road traffic injuries continue to be the leading cause of child death in most industrial countries. Moreover, in First Nation communities, injury is a leading cause of death estimated by Health Canada to be two to four times greater than that of other Canadians. Vehicle crashes have been identified as the main cause of injury and death of First Nation people under the age of 25 years. The risk of death and serious injury due to motor vehicle crashes can be reduced by up to 70% if children are properly restrained. However, a Transport Canada study with three First Nations communities revealed very low rates of child seat use, particularly in school aged children.
Our study examined factors that influence both knowledge and use of child safety devices, including car and booster seats, helmets and seat belts. We also explored the influence of trust on knowledge acquisition, effectiveness of safety messages and adherence with safety guidelines.
Method
We administered an anonymous survey to adults, age 18 and older, who were members of First Nation reserve communities located in the Canadian Provinces of Ontario and Quebec. Participants were recruited at health centers and during community events and festivals. The survey included questions on knowledge and use of child car seats, booster seats and seat belts; automobile and traffic safety; adult safety and injury; accidents and health care. Trust questions included general trust; interpersonal trust; confidence in institutions; trust in research and science; trust in child safety information; and health care trust.
Results
Parents scoring higher on knowledge of child safety measures reported using car seats and booster seats in greater proportion than parents with lower levels of knowledge, as expected. However, trust had an influence on both knowledge acquisition and the use of child safety measures. Parents with high levels of trust in the information on child safety measures were twice as likely to use car and booster seats as those with lower levels of trust even when controlling for safety knowledge. Institutional and interpersonal trust also contributed to variations in knowledge and use.
Implications
Increasing parents’ knowledge on the importance of using child safety measures is critical for improving child safety and decreasing childhood injuries. Using sources that parents find trustworthy is signficant not only for knowledge acquisition but also for translating this knowledge into action. Parents in First Nations communities found sources such as the health care system, local merchants, the school system, neighbors and families to be more trustworthy than traditional sources of information, such the government, police, judiciary and experts. Further exploration and replication of the relationship of trust, information source and knowledge application is important for on-going efforts to improve child health and safety both in First Nation communities and beyond.