Children's behaviors and high-risk agricultural work exposures: an opportunity for intervention?
Authors
Carlson-KF; Gerberich-SG; Alexander-BH; Masten-AS; Church-TR; Shutske-JM; Ryan-AD; Renier-CM
Source
APHA 135th Annual Meeting and Exposition, Washington, DC, November 3-7, 2007. Washington, DC: American Public Health Association, 2007 Nov; :155629
Abstract
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.
Keywords
Agricultural-industry; Agricultural-processes; Agricultural-workers; Agriculture; Behavior-patterns; Children; Families; Farmers; Injuries; Injury-prevention; Quantitative-analysis; Questionnaires; Safety-education; Safety-measures; Safety-practices; Statistical-analysis; Work-analysis; Work-environment; Work-operations; Work-performance; Workplace-studies;
Author Keywords: Agricultural Work Safety; Injury Prevention
Identifying No.
Grant-Number-T42-OH-008434
Source Name
APHA 135th Annual Meeting and Exposition, Washington, DC, November 3-7, 2007
Performing Organization
University of Minnesota Twin Cities
