Automobile passenger safety education for pregnant women and infants. Attitudes and practices of obstetrician-gynecologists.

Attitudes and practices regarding automobile passenger safety education for pregnant women and infants were surveyed in a random sample of 236 certified obstetrician-gynecologists in California. A majority of respondents stated that maternal passenger safety (71.6%) and infant/child passenger safety (63.6%) should be "routinely discussed by the obstetrician-gynecologist during the prenatal period." Nevertheless, one of four respondents could not give an opinion or had doubts about the safety of seat belt use in pregnant women. Fewer than one of three discussed maternal passenger safety, and fewer than one of four discussed infant/child passenger safety when giving prenatal care. There was a scarcity of patient education materials in the practitioners' offices. Given the obstetrician-gynecologists' support for promoting passenger safety, there is need for increased health education activities in offices, clinics, hospitals and prenatal classes.