155629 Children's Behaviors and High-Risk Agricultural Work Exposures: An Opportunity for Intervention?

Tuesday, November 6, 2007: 1:30 PM

Kathleen F. Carlson, MS, PhD , Portland Center for the Study of Chronic, Comorbid Mental and Physical Disorders, Portland VA Medical Center (R&D 66), Portland, OR
Susan G. Gerberich, PhD , MCOHS/RIRRC/CVPC, Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Bruce H. Alexander, PhD , Regional Injury Prevention Research Center, Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Ann S. Masten, PhD , Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Timothy R. Church, PhD , Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
John M. Shutske, PhD , Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Department, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN
Andrew D. Ryan, MS , Regional Injury Prevention Research Center, Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Colleen M. Renier, BS , Division of Research, Essentia Institute of Rural Health, Duluth, MN
           
Background: The purpose of this study was to identify associations between children's behaviors and their exposures to high-risk agricultural work environments.

Methods: The Regional Rural Injury Study – II occurred in 1999 (phase 1) and 2001 (phase 2) and involved cohorts totaling 32,602 farm and ranch family household members. Using six-month recall periods, computer-assisted telephone interviews were used to collect detailed behavior and exposure data for 1,941 children at risk for agricultural injury. Odds of high-risk work exposures were estimated in reference to behavioral items and scores for five scales, based on a priori constructs and exploratory factor analysis. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated through logistic regression, controlling for potential confounders by means of directed acyclic graphs.

Results: Children with high (versus medium/low) scores for aggression were more likely to ride on tractors (OR=1.8, CI=1.1–2.9) and operate large equipment (OR=1.7, CI=0.9–3.2), while those with high levels for depressive symptoms were more likely to work with dairy cattle (OR=2.5, CI=1.3–4.7). Those with low (versus medium/high) levels of careful/cautious behavior were more likely to be frequent bystanders in fields or barnyards (OR=2.1, CI=1.2–3.8). Children with low self-regulation were less likely to operate tractors (OR=0.6, CI=0.4–1.0), while those with low responsible conduct were less likely to work with beef cattle (OR=0.7, CI=0.4–1.0) and horses (OR=0.5, CI=0.3–0.8).

Conclusions: Children's high-risk agricultural exposures are driven, in part, by their behaviors. Understanding these relationships will help inform educational interventions to prevent children's agricultural injury.

Learning Objectives:
1. Identify behavioral traits associated with children’s exposure to high-risk work 2. Identify behavioral traits associated with children’s likelihood of bystanding in high-risk environments 3. Discuss implications for further research into behavior-related risk factors and potential prevention measures for children’s agricultural injury

Keywords: Agricultural Work Safety, Injury Prevention

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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