Comparison of the risk-taking behaviours of children and the practices adopted by their caregivers for improving home safety.
OBJECTIVE
The objectives of this study were: (1) to describe the efforts of caregivers to provide a safe home environment for their children and the risk-taking behaviours of children; (2) to determine the efficacy of caregivers' practices for providing a safe environment on the risk-taking behaviours of children; (3) to identify factors influencing the home-safety practices adopted by caregivers for their children; and (4) to determine the information sources that caregivers use for preventing in-home injuries in their children.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study


METHODS
The sample consisted of 563 pairs of elementary students and their caregivers, who were administered home-safety questionnaires at school and home, respectively. Five hundred and one matched pairs were included in the analysis.


RESULTS
Caregivers' provision of a safe environment resulted in a reduced level of risk-taking behaviours in children, with this improving with sociodemographic status, higher paternal educational level, higher income level, living in an apartment, and for male children. Television and radio were the primary sources of information about preventing childhood in-home injuries, with only 38.0% of the caregivers listing doctors or hospitals as an information source.


CONCLUSIONS
The data from this study indicate the vital roles played by caregivers in managing the risk of injury to young children and preventing injuries in the home.
Hong
Juhee
J
Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, 911-1 Mok-6-dong, Yangcheon-Gu, Seoul 158-710, South Korea.
Min
Jungwon
J
Kong
Kyoung Ae
KA
Park
Bo-Hyun
BH
Lee
Boeun
B
Shon
Ju Hyun
JH
Sohn
Jung Hee
JH
Park
Hyesook
H
D000056:Accident Prevention; D017028:Caregivers; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012449:Safety