Children's injuries in agriculture related events: the effect of supervision on the injury experience

Abstract

An international health problem and the leading cause of death and disability among children in the United States are unintentional injuries. Children in rural areas in the United States have the highest death rate related to unintentional injuries regardless of age (Crawley, 1996). Using Haddon's Injury Model as the theoretical framework, the purpose of this study is threefold. First the study describes actual injuries that were sustained by farm children. Second, the research identifies the type of supervision the farm children and adolescents were receiving at the time of the injury, and finally the study examines injury risk in relation to supervision. Descriptive and categorical data analysis methods were used to examine the associations between farm-related injury and supervision type. Out of 177 children living in the home under 18 years of age, 32 children sustained at least one injury and eight sustained two injuries within one year from the time of the survey. The majority of children needed medical attention because of their injuries (n = 37). Children were more likely to sustain farm-related injury when they were supervised by a caregiver engaged in farm work versus supervised at home (p =.007). The findings of this study support Haddon's Injury Model, which suggests injuries occur because of an uncontrolled interaction between a host, an agent, and the environment. Examining the children's role within the framework of Haddon's Injury Model, will assist researchers in designing evidenced-based research that addresses the interaction between the host, agent, and environmental factors. Results from these studies will be useful in identifying effective interventions in the pre-event phase, as well as maximizing quality of life in the postevent phase.