title: Risk and protective factors for falls from furniture in young children: multicenter case-control study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Falls from furniture are common in young children but there is little evidence on protective factors for these falls.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To estimate associations for risk and protective factors for falls from furniture in children aged 0 to 4 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Multicenter case-control study at hospitals, minor injury units, and general practices in and around 4 UK study centers. Recruitment commenced June 14, 2010, and ended April 27, 2012. Participants included 672 children with falls from furniture and 2648 control participants matched on age, sex, calendar time, and study center. Thirty-five percent of cases and 33% of control individuals agreed to participate. The mean age was 1.74 years for cases and 1.91 years for control participants. Fifty-four percent of cases and 56% of control participants were male. Exposures included safety practices, safety equipment use, and home hazards.
  
  
  METHODS
  Falls from furniture occurring at the child's home resulting in attendance at an emergency department, minor injury unit, or hospital admission.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with parents of control participants, parents of cases were significantly more likely not to use safety gates in the home (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.65; 95% CI, 1.29-2.12) and not to have taught their children rules about climbing on kitchen objects (AOR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.16-2.15). Cases aged 0 to 12 months were significantly more likely to have been left on raised surfaces (AOR, 5.62; 95% CI, 3.62-8.72), had their diapers changed on raised surfaces (AOR, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.24-2.88), and been put in car/bouncing seats on raised surfaces (AOR, 2.05; 95% CI, 1.29-3.27). Cases 3 years and older were significantly more likely to have played or climbed on furniture (AOR, 9.25; 95% CI, 1.22-70.07). Cases were significantly less likely to have played or climbed on garden furniture (AOR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.56-0.97).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  If estimated associations are causal, some falls from furniture may be prevented by incorporating advice into child health contacts, personal child health records, and home safety assessments about use of safety gates; not leaving children, changing diapers, or putting children in car/bouncing seats on raised surfaces; allowing children to play or climb on furniture; and teaching children safety rules about climbing on objects.
authors.affiliation: Division of Primary Care, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, England.
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kendrick
authors.affiliation: Division of Primary Care, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, England.
authors.forename: Asiya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maula
authors.affiliation: Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals, National Health Service Foundation Trust, Norwich, England.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Reading
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, England.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hindmarch
authors.affiliation: Division of Primary Care, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, England.
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Coupland
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, England.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.affiliation: Child Accident Prevention Trust, London, England.
authors.forename: Mike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.affiliation: Centre for Child and Adolescent Health, Health, and Life Sciences, Department of Family and Child Health, University of the West of England, Bristol, England.
authors.forename: Toity
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Deave
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000061:Accidents, Home / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000367:Age Factors; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D015370:Infant Equipment / Q000009:adverse effects; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007374:Interior Design and Furnishings; D008297:Male; D010988:Play and Playthings; D011482:Protective Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012449:Safety; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology