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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Kathleen Ferguson Carlson, MS¹, Susan G. Gerberich, PhD², Bruce H. Alexander, PhD², Ann S. Masten, PhD³, Timothy R. Church, PhD², Andrew D. Ryan, MS², and Colleen M. Renier, BS⁴. (1) Environmental Health Sciences, University of Minnesota, MMC 807, 420 Delaware St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, 612-624-1449, ferg0114@umn.edu, (2) Regional Injury Prevention Research Center, Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Mayo Mail Code 807, 420 Delaware St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, (3) Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota, 205 Child Development, 51 East River Road, Minneapolis, MN 55455, (4) Division of Education & Research, St. Mary's/Duluth Clinic Health System, 5AV2ME, 400 E. 3rd. St., Duluth, MN 55805

Background: The purpose of this study was to identify potential behavior-related risk factors for children's agricultural injury. Methods: The Regional Rural Injury Study – II, population-based nested case-control studies occurring in 1999 (phase 1) and 2001 (phase 2), involved cohorts totaling 32,602 members of farming and ranching households with children. Computer-assisted telephone interviews were used to collect demographic, exposure, and injury data for six-month recall periods. A total of 391 children with agricultural injuries (cases) and 1,625 randomly selected controls were identified for the current study. We estimated children's odds of injury in reference to behavior items and scores adapted from the Parent Observation of Child Adaptation (POCA) checklist and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using logistic regression, controlling for confounders by means of directed acyclic graphs. Results: Only individual POCA and CBCL items were associated with risk. While controlling for potential confounders, children who often or almost always got into fights (versus almost never/sometimes) had increased odds of injury (OR=1.9, CI=1.0, 3.6), as did those who broke rules (OR=2.0, CI=0.9, 4.2) or worked hard (OR=1.6, CI=1.0, 2.5). Children who almost never/sometimes were cautious (OR=1.4, CI=1.0, 2.0) or almost never/sometimes planned carefully (OR=1.3, CI=1.0, 1.7) also had increased odds of injury. Conclusions: These results suggest that children's behavioral traits may influence their risk of agricultural injury. Additional research on behavior-related injury risk factors in the agricultural population is warranted.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Identify five behavioral traits associated with children’s odds of agricultural injury
• Assess the use of two behavior-related scales for injury research in a population of farming and ranching families
• Discuss implications for further research into behavior-related risk factors and potential prevention measures for children’s agricultural injury

Keywords: Agricultural Work Safety, Occupational Safety

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation