Injury patterns and seat belt effectiveness in pregnant motor vehicle occupants: evidence from US crash data, 1998-2021.

ABSTRACT: Motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) are the most common etiology of trauma and non-obstetric fetal death among pregnant individuals. Seat belts prevent MVC-related injuries; however, some pregnant individuals do not wear a seat belt due to discomfort and concerns about belt-related safety for their fetus. Highlighted by stagnating seat belt use rates over time and potential for incorrect usage, seat belt effectiveness among pregnant occupants requires further study. Here, crash data 1998-2021 for pregnant occupants from National Automotive Sampling System - Crashworthiness Data System (NASS-CDS) and the Crash Investigation Sampling System (CISS) were analyzed to: 1) evaluate the effectiveness of seat belts on preventing whole-body injury outcomes; 2) evaluate the effectiveness of seat belts on

SUBMITTER: Espelien C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12487210 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature