title: A multi-site study on knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and practice of child-dog interactions in rural China.
abstract: This study examines demographic, cognitive and behavioral factors that predict pediatric dog-bite injury risk in rural China. A total of 1,537 children (grades 4-6) in rural regions of Anhui, Hebei and Zhejiang Provinces, China completed self-report questionnaires assessing beliefs about and behaviors with dogs. The results showed that almost 30% of children reported a history of dog bites. Children answered 56% of dog-safety knowledge items correctly. Regressions revealed both demographic and cognitive/behavioral factors predicted children's risky interactions with dogs and dog-bite history. Boys behaved more riskily with dogs and were more frequently bitten. Older children reported greater risks with dogs and more bites. With demographics controlled, attitudes/beliefs of invulnerability, exposure frequency, and dog ownership predicted children's self-reported risky practice with dogs. Attitudes/beliefs of invulnerability, dog exposure, and dog ownership predicted dog bites. In conclusion, both demographic and cognitive/behavioral factors influenced rural Chinese children's dog-bite injury risk. Theory-based, empirically-supported intervention programs might reduce dog-bite injuries in rural China.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1300 University Blvd., CH 415, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA. jiabin@uab.edu
authors.forename: Jiabin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Shaohua
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Huiyun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xiang
authors.forename: Shulan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pang
authors.forename: Guozhang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Schwebel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D057805:Pets; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires