Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2014 May;46(5):449-56.
doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2014.01.005.

Health literacy and injury prevention behaviors among caregivers of infants

William J Heerman  1 , Eliana M Perrin  2 , H Shonna Yin  3 , Lee M Sanders  4 , Svetlana K Eden  5 , Ayumi Shintani  5 , Tamera Coyne-Beasley  2 , Andrea B Bronaugh  6 , Shari L Barkin  7 , Russell L Rothman  6
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Health literacy and injury prevention behaviors among caregivers of infants

William J Heerman et al. Am J Prev Med. 2014 May.

Abstract

Background: Unintentional injury is a leading cause of infant mortality.

Purpose: To examine the role of caregiver health literacy in infant injury prevention behaviors.

Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of data collected in 2010-2012 from a randomized trial at four pediatric clinics was performed in 2012-2013. Caregiver health literacy was assessed with the Short Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults. Caregiver-reported adherence to American Academy of Pediatrics-recommended injury prevention behaviors was assessed across seven domains: (1) car seat position; (2) car seat use; (3) sleeping safety; (4) fire safety; (5) hot water safety; (6) fall prevention; and (7) firearm safety.

Results: Data were analyzed from 844 English- and Spanish-speaking caregivers of 2-month-old children. Many caregivers were non-adherent with injury prevention guidelines, regardless of health literacy. Notably, 42.6% inappropriately placed their children in the prone position to sleep, and 88.6% did not have their hot water heater set <120°F. Eleven percent of caregivers were categorized as having low health literacy. Low caregiver health literacy, compared to adequate health literacy, was significantly associated with increased odds of caregiver non-adherence with recommended behaviors for car seat position (AOR=3.4, 95% CI=1.6, 7.1) and fire safety (AOR=2.0, 95% CI=1.02, 4.1) recommendations. Caregivers with low health literacy were less likely to be non-adherent to fall prevention recommendations (AOR=0.5, 95% CI=0.2, 0.9).

Conclusions: Non-adherence to injury prevention guidelines was common. Low caregiver health literacy was significantly associated with some injury prevention behaviors. Future interventions should consider the role of health literacy in promoting injury prevention.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Study enrollment STOFHLA, Short Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. CDC. WISQARS leading causes of death reports, national and regional, 1999–2010. Atlanta GA: CDC; 2010.
    1. Agran PF, Anderson C, Winn D, Trent R, Walton-Haynes L, Thayer S. Rates of pediatric injuries by 3-month intervals for children 0 to 3 years of age. Pediatrics. 2003;111(6 Pt 1):e683–92. - PubMed
    1. Gielen AC, Wilson ME, McDonald EM, et al. Randomized trial of enhanced anticipatory guidance for injury prevention. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2001;155(1):42–9. - PubMed
    1. Gielen AC, McDonald EM, Wilson ME, et al. Effects of improved access to safety counseling, products, and home visits on parents’ safety practices: results of a randomized trial. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2002;156(1):33–40. - PubMed
    1. USDHHS. Healthy people 2010. Washington DC: USDHHS; 2000. Conference ed.

Publication types