Saudi Women's Beliefs on the Use of Car Infant Restraints: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Objective: The focus of this study was to identify the salient beliefs of pregnant women in Saudi Arabia that may influence their intentions to use infant restraints for their children. These beliefs were later used to inform a subsequent quantitative study.

Methods: This qualitative study employed Ajzen's theory of planned behavior to elicit the salient behavioral, normative, and control beliefs of Saudi pregnant women regarding the use of infant restraints for their future children. Twenty-five pregnant women participated in 2 focus groups conducted in June 2013 at Dallah Hospital in Riyadh.

Results: Lack of health education and law enforcement; cultural pressure and traditions; counsel from family, specifically from husbands and mothers; desire to stay close to the child; family size; and car size were key factors in deciding whether or not to use car seats; the high cost of car seats was not.

Conclusions: Aside from providing awareness to future mothers and the general public, health interventions should target the specific beliefs identified in this study. Because participants identified husbands as significant referents, further studies are needed to examine the husbands’ attitudes and beliefs.

Keywords:

• Saudi Arabia
• infant restraints
• car seats
• theory of planned behavior

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the administration and the OB/GYN Department of Dallah Hospital, Riyadh, K.S.A., and specifically Dr. Mohammed Alfagih and Dr. Lamia Khaleel and her department for their kind support and active help in this study.