Buckle Up Safely (Shoalhaven): A Process and Impact Evaluation of a Pragmatic, Multifaceted Preschool-Based Pilot Program to Increase Correct Use of Age-Appropriate Child Restraints

Abstract

Objective: To conduct a process and impact evaluation of a multifaceted education-based pilot program targeting correct use of age-appropriate restraints in a regional setting with a high proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families. Methods: The program was delivered in 2010 in 3 early learning centers where 31 percent of the children were of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent. Each component of the program was assessed for message consistency and uptake. To measure program effectiveness, participating children were matched 1:1 by age, language spoken at home, and annual household income with 71 children from the control arm of a contemporaneous trial. The outcome..