A Comparative Study of Dog- and Cat-Induced Injury on Incidence and Risk Factors among Children.
Background:Millions of people are bitten by animals each year, with approximately 90% of the injuries being caused by dogs and cats. However, few studies focus on risk factors of dog- and cat-induced injury in China. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the rate of dog- and cat-induced injury and its potential risk factors.Methods:The data were from a population-based cross-sectional study conducted in 2015, with a sample of 9380 children 6-19 years of age from two cities, Shenzhen (large city) and Shantou (mid-sized city), in southern China. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to identify the risk factors of injury by dogs and cats.Results:The total rates of dog and cat-induced injury were 15.1% and 8.7% during the lifetime, and 3.4% and 1.7% during the past year, respectively. Dog bites mostly occurred in the dog's residence (49.4%). Cat scratches were more likely to be inflicted by one's own cat (47.5%). Children living in suburban and island county had 2.83 times and 2.53 times more dog-related injuries than central urban children, respectively. After stratification by cities, injuries in Shantou were correlated with non-single child families (OR (odds ratios), 1.46; 95% CI (95% confidence interval), 1.09-1.96) and raising cats (OR, 5.34; 95% CI, 3.88-7.35). Those who disliked animals (OR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.45-0.88) or had good academic performance (OR, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.35-0.60) had lower risk for injury. Injuries in Shenzhen were related to the mother's educational level (OR, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.11-2.07) and mother being a migrant worker (OR, 2.10; 95% CI, 1.12-3.94).Conclusions:Family factors were important to predict dog- and cat-induced injury among children from Shenzhen, and personal factors were closely associated with injury among children form Shantou.
Center for Injury Prevention Research, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China. 13chenying@stu.edu.cn.
Ying
Y
Chen
Department of Physical Education, Faculty of Social Sciences, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China. gaoyang@hkbu.edu.hk.
Yang
Y
Gao
Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen 518055, China. allicdc@163.com.
Li
L
Zhou
Center for Injury Prevention Research, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China. tanyf1012@163.com.
Yafei
Y
Tan
Center for Injury Prevention Research, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China. lpli@stu.edu.cn.
Liping
L
Li
D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002415:Cats; D002648:Child; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
China; children; dog- and cat-related injury; risk factors