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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Veerasathpurush Allareddy, BDS, MBA¹, Corinne Peek-Asa, PhD, MPH², Jingzhen Yang, PhD, MPH³, and Craig Zwerling, PhD, MD, MPH². (1) Health Management and Policy, University of Iowa, 200 Hawkins Drive E211GH, Iowa City, IA 52242, (319)384-5120, veerasathpurush-allareddy@uiowa.edu, (2) Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Iowa, 124 IREH, 100 Oakdale Campus, Iowa City, IA 52242, (3) Community and Behavioral Health, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, 200 Hawkins Drive, E236GH, Iowa City, IA 52242

Background – Rural households report high fire-related mortality and injury rates, but few studies have examined risk factors for fires. The objective of this study is to identify occupant and household characteristics that are associated with residential fires in a rural cohort. Methods – Of 1,005 households contacted in a single rural county, 691 (68.8%) volunteered to participate. One household with missing information on reported fire was excluded from the analysis. Logistic regression analyses controlled for years lived in the residence were conducted to examine the independent association of occupant and household characteristics with reported fires. A multivariate logistic regression model was built to identify household and occupant characteristics most strongly associated with a reported fire. Results - A total of 78 (11.3%) households reported a residential fire. Occupant characteristics that were associated with significantly higher odds of reported fires included the presence of an occupant with alcohol problems (OR = 1.82, p = 0.04) and being married (OR = 2.11, p = 0.01). Rural farm households were associated with significantly higher odds (OR=1.72, p = 0.04) of reporting a fire when compared to residences in towns after controlling for all other occupant and household characteristics. Conclusion - Rural farm households report higher incidences of fire when compared to households located in towns. Usage of supplemental heating sources in rural households could explain the higher reports of fire. Causal factors for fire and fire death differ. Primary prevention efforts need to focus on minimizing risk factors for fires in rural households.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify occupant and household characteristics associated with residential fires in rural areas.
• To examine if causal factors for fire and fire death differ.

Keywords: Rural Communities, Injury Prevention

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation