Farm-related fatalities among children in California, 1980 to 1989.
To evaluate farm-related deaths among children in California and to identify specific risk factors, this study used death certificate tapes to identify 40 farm-related deaths among children under age 15 in California for 1980 to 1989. Mortality rates and odds ratios for cause-specific unintentional farm deaths were calculated. While California's farm-related mortality rate was lower than those in the midwestern states studied, the rate for Hispanic boys was 70% higher than that for non-Hispanics. The odds of death from machinery (81.3), animals (10.1), electricity (5.2), and nontraffic motor vehicles (3.4) were significantly greater than those in nonfarm locations; those from drowning were significantly lower (0.2). Specific factors associated with the lower California mortality rate need to be identified.
Department of Internal Medicine, University of California at Davis 95616-8648.
M B
MB
Schenker
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R
Lopez
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G
Wintemute
D000059:Accidents / Q000401:mortality*; D000293:Adolescent; D000383:Agriculture; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors