Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #101627

Susan G. Gerberich, PhD¹, Timothy R. Church, PhD², Bruce H. Alexander, PhD³, Ann S. Masten, PhD⁴, Colleen M. Renier, BS⁵, Kathleen Ferguson Carlson, MS⁶, Andrew D. Ryan, MS⁷, and Steven J. Mongin, MS². (1) Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Mayo Mail Code 807, 420 Delaware St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, (612) 625-5934, gerbe001@umn.edu, (2) Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St SE, MMC 807, Minneapolis, MN 55455, (3) Division of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Mayo Mail Code 807, 420 Delaware St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, (4) Institute of Child Development, Psychology, University of Minnesota, 51 East River Road, Minneapolis, MN 55455, (5) Division of Education & Research, St. Mary's/Duluth Clinic Health System, 5AV2ME, 400 E 3rd St, Duluth, MN 55805, (6) School of Public Health, Division of Environmental Health Sciences, Regional Injury Prevention Research Center, University of Minnesota, Mayo Mail Code 807, 420 Delaware Street S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455, (7) Health Studies Section, University of Minnesota, Gateway Building Suite 350, 200 Oak St., Minneapolis, MN 55455

Background: This effort served as a model for surveillance among agricultural households, between 1999 and 2001, to: monitor changes in injury burden for all ages; identify risk factors for agriculture-related injuries among those less than 20 years (<20 years) of age. Methods: Data for all injury events and demographics were collected from a cohort of agricultural operation household members, in a five-state Midwest region, for 1999 and 2001. A nested case-control study collected exposure data for those <20 years. Injury rates were adjusted for within-household correlation. Adjustment analyses addressed potential biases. Case-control data were analyzed using multivariate methods. Results: For 1999 and 2001, respectively, 16,538 and 16,064 persons incurred 2,586 and 2,459 injury events; annualized injury rates per 1,000 persons for <20 and 20+ years, were: 146.0 and 176.0; 144.8 and 168.6. Primary sources of agriculture-related injuries, for each age group, by year, were: animals (41%, 32%; 32%, 37%) and falls (31%, 23%; 32%, 24%). Age groups, by year, identified >7 days of lost agricultural work time, associated with agriculture-related injuries (16%, 15%; 19%, 14%), and all other injuries (17%,15%; 19%, 26%). From case (n=203; 222) - control (n=755; 1131) data, in respective years, increased risks were identified for: operating/riding in a motor vehicle; riding on/operating a tractor; operating large/small equipment; working with horses, sheep, beef cattle, and dairy cattle. Conclusions: Identification of the total injury burden, on agricultural operations, and risk factors for agriculture-related injuries, suggest opportunities for interventions and further research.

Learning Objectives:

• Distinguish between the rates of injury for adults and children who reside in agricultural households.
• Identify risk factors for agricultural injury among children.
• Understand the burden of total injury on agricultural households and operations.
• Recognize the importance of the unique surveillance system.

Keywords: Surveillance, Injury Risk

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.