270066 Named holidays, Black Fridays, consumerism and violence: A mythical association or an emerging outbreak of epidemic in our communities?

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Adenike Bitto, MD, MPH, DrPH, MCHES, FRSPH , Consultant Epidemiologist & Master Certified Health Education Specialist, East Stroudsburg, PA
Amar Kanekar, PhD, MPH, MB, BS, MCHES, CPH , Department of Health, Human Performance and Sport Management, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Little Rock, AR
Mildred Nunoo, BS, MPH Candidate , Health Studies, East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania, Stroudsburg, PA
Seasonal affective disorders and associated depressive states are well recognized; as is the documented increase in domestic violence during the holidays. However, the ongoing economic recession is birthing an increased level of interpersonal malice and violence in our communities. This presentation uses Haddon's Matrix and a paradigm that examines social constructs that encourage versus those that limit these outbreaks of violence. Clearly personal and environmental characteristics, and behavior play a causal or mitigating role. The purpose of this presentation is to address an emerging issue that needs immediate public health attention, prevention and control. A systematic review of the available literature highlights this topical issue. Search terms included holiday violence, economic recession, interventions, Black Friday, consumerism, shopping, and an analysis of completeness of reporting of these events. Findings and Results: Reports reveal issues arising from a consumer-driven society, and the associated desperation in a depressed economy. Discussion and Conclusions: Violent and other harmful acts observed during the holidays and at “Black Friday” sales events can lead to dangerous health consequences peculiar to this time of year, including gun shot wounds; injuries from pushing, shoving, trampling, slipping/sliding, and falling; road rage, robberies, and assaults. Stress leading to anxiety states or migraines or other health conditions may arise from shoppers inability to obtain desired items or the unnatural nocturnal standing in queues or other activities required to obtain “door buster deals.” Recommendations are provided for mitigation and devising strategies to contain these adverse events, prevent/contain future violent episodes, public health must intervene now to avert future catastrophes

Learning Areas:
Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Epidemiology
Occupational health and safety
Public health or related public policy
Social and behavioral sciences
Systems thinking models (conceptual and theoretical models), applications related to public health

Learning Objectives:
1. By the end of the session the participant will be able to discuss an emerging epidemic of violence in our communities, linked to the holiday season and increasingly demanding of health education interventions. 2. By the end of the session the participant will be able to describe relevant epidemiological and injury prevention models that mediate and explain this emerging epidemic of violence. 3. By the end of the session the participant will be able to discuss health education intervention strategies for amelioration of this emerging epidemic and prevention of future catastrophic consequences in our communities.

Keywords: Violence Prevention, Emerging Health Issues

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been a principal investigator on multiple projects focusing on epidemiology.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

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.