Infant car seat usage. Effectiveness of a postpartum educational program.

A study, based on the social learning theory model and designed to assess the effect of a postpartum educational program on mothers' use of infant car seats at the time of discharge was conducted. The control group consisted of data for 92 mothers obtained by recording their behavior at the time of discharge regarding their use of infant car seats and eight other related measures. The postpartum study group (90) was shown an educational slide/audio tape presentation followed by a question-and-answer period and demonstration of car seats. They were also given a shoppers' guide and a pamphlet of facts and pictures of car seats. Statistical significance was obtained on several measures.