3200.0: Monday, October 22, 2001 - Board 2

Abstract #31788

Child Safety: Differences in Perception

Helene Felman1, Susan Avila, RN MPH2, Linda Coronado3, Ignacio Alvarado3, and Dennis Vickers, MD MPH2. (1) University of Chicago, 5454 S Shore Dr. #416, Chicago, IL 60615, (2) Department of Trauma, 3838 N Janssen, Chicago, IL 60613, (3) Department of Interpreter, 1835 W. Harrison, Chicago, IL 60612

Objectives: Strategies regarding injury prevention counseling for children have been well documented. The goal of this project was to describe and assess the provider perception of priority areas for injury prevention counseling with the Spanish speaking communities' perception of risk for injury.

Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was given to providers within a busy, urban safety net system of healthcare. Providers were surveyed regarding perceptions and capabilities in providing community-based injury prevention counseling. Patients were surveyed and one focus group was conducted eliciting patients' injury prevention behaviors, perceived barriers and perceptions of risk for injury.

Results: In five of the eleven community health centers surveyed 65 patient surveys were administered in Spanish. A focus group conducted in Spanish was held with nine participants at a local school near one of the health centers. Of those surveyed in Spanish only 4% indicated the home as the place for greatest risk for injury. 80% of the providers surveyed ranked the home as a site of high injury risk. 91% of the parents indicated that neighborhood streets and parks were places that their children faced the greatest risk for injury. Within the focus group parents identified language and cultural barriers with lack of appropriate literature as obstacles. Though providers generally lacked information, many felt satisfaction in addressing injury prevention.

Conclusions: Our findings indicated parental concern can differ from provider concerns with regard to risk for childhood injury. Community members exhibited greater concern for neighborhood risk and viewed their homes as extremely safe.

Learning Objectives: Recognize preceptional diffferences in need, barriers and areas of risk between Latino urban population and health care providers regarding injury prevention Discuss implications of preceived needs and barriers to injury prevention policy

Keywords: Injury Prevention,

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Cook County Ambulatory and Community Health Network, Cook County Department of Trauma, Cook County Department of Interpreter Services
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: employment

The 129th Annual Meeting of APHA