Predictors of unintentional injuries to school-age children seen in pediatric primary care.
OBJECTIVE
To identify predictors of unintentional injury to school-age children seen in pediatric primary care.


METHODS
Members of a managed health care system (295 children ages 5-11 years and their mothers) participated. We used Time 1 measures of child, maternal, and family functioning and health care utilization to predict rates of unintentional child injury for the following year. Multiple regression analyses were performed to identify variables contributing to prospective injury rates.


RESULTS
The final regression model included eight Time 1 variables and accounted for 21% of the variance in Time 2 injury rates. Significant predictors of increased injury liability were younger child age, more children at home, child behavior problems, child social competence, three indices of reduced child health, and maternal anxiety.


CONCLUSIONS
We discuss the utility of these predictors for pediatric psychologists in targeting primary care preventive interventions to families at risk for unintentional child injury.
Bradbury
K
K
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg 24061, USA.
Janicke
D M
DM
Riley
A W
AW
Finney
J W
JW
D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D002662:Child Health Services; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006279:Health Maintenance Organizations; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010372:Pediatrics; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D002666:Psychology, Child; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*