For example, the promotion of the use of child safety seats is a well-accepted form of prevention for motor vehicle crash injury, but the method used to promote them may need to be tailored to the cultural beliefs of the specific tribe. In some tribes, discussions of mortality, risk, and harm are forbidden. For example, health care professionals should not warn that death is a potential outcome if certain protective measures are not taken. One strategy used by the IHS Injury Prevention Program was to conduct a crash test using a cradle board to demonstrate the inadequacy of this device as a child vehicle restraint. Video footage of this test was sufficient to communicate the risk without having to predict risk of harm to the child.
Pediatricians can increase their understanding of tribal cultures in many ways.
Many tribes have or are developing cultural centers to assist nonmembers to gain a greater understanding of the tribe. Second, providers should take extra time to convey information in a clear nonjudgmental style that is free of jargon. They may respond quietly or ask few questions because of their beliefs about respect and consideration. Respect tribal sovereignty and community-specific cultural factors when considering regulatory or legal approaches to injury prevention. Provide assistance with advocacy for adoption of tribal seat belt and child car seat traffic safety laws or the adoption by tribes of state child motor vehicle safety laws.