Identification of risk factors for non-fatal child injury in a rural area: Keokuk County Rural Health Study.
OBJECTIVE
To identify risk factors for non-fatal injury among rural children.


METHODS
Cross sectional health interview survey, 1994-98.


METHODS
A rural Iowa county, not adjacent to a metropolitan area.


METHODS
Stratified, random sample of households, including all resident children and adults.


METHODS
Injury episodes in the past 12 months among children aged 0-17 years and the parental and child characteristics associated with these episodes.


RESULTS
Of the 621 children in participating households, 137 or 22.1% were injured during the past 12 months. Children age 5-17 on a sports team were 1.88 times (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07 to 3.31) more likely than other children to be injured. Children age 12-17 who binge drink were 3.50 times (95% CI 1.31 to 9.50) more likely than other children to be injured. Compared with children not on sports teams, girls on teams were 2.26 times (95% CI 1.02 to 5.13) more likely while boys on teams were 1.60 times (95% CI 0.71 to 3.68) more likely to have an injury episode. Compared with children who did not binge drink, girls binge drinking were 8.11 times (95% CI 1.52 to 43.33) more likely while boys binge drinking were 2.19 times (95% CI 0.70 to 6.84) more likely to have an injury episode.


CONCLUSIONS
Local studies such as this can provide useful clues regarding the etiology of injury. Some known and some new potential risk factors including behavioral aspects for childhood non-fatal injury in a very rural area were investigated. It is planned to address these cross sectional findings in future longitudinal follow up of this population.
Nordstrom
D L
DL
Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City, Iowa, USA. dnordstr@fammed.wisc.edu
Zwerling
C
C
Stromquist
A M
AM
Burmeister
L F
LF
Merchant
J A
JA
D000293:Adolescent; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007484:Iowa / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012737:Sex Factors; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology