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Association between the inception of a SAFE KIDS Coalition and changes in pediatric unintentional injury rates
R F Tamburro1, R I Shorr, A J Bush
1Division of Critical Care Medicine, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, USA. robert.tamburro@stjude.org
Insights
Implementing a SAFE KIDS Coalition was linked to fewer severe pediatric injuries, particularly motor vehicle occupant injuries. This suggests coalitions may improve child safety outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Pediatric Injury Prevention
- Community Health Initiatives
Background:
- Unintentional injuries are a leading cause of death and disability in children.
- Community-based coalitions aim to reduce injury risks through targeted interventions.
- Assessing the impact of such coalitions on injury rates is crucial for public health strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the association between the establishment of a SAFE KIDS Coalition and pediatric unintentional injury rates.
- To determine if coalition implementation correlates with a reduction in severe injuries among children.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective observational analysis conducted in Shelby County, Tennessee.
- Examined injury data for children aged nine years or younger from 1990-1997.
- Utilized Poisson regression to compare injury rates before and after coalition implementation.
Main Results:
- A significant decrease in severe, targeted injury rates was observed post-coalition implementation.
- Severe motor vehicle occupant injuries declined by 30% (RR 0.70; 95% CI 0.54-0.89).
- The reduction in targeted injuries remained significant after controlling for hospital admission rate changes.
Conclusions:
- The SAFE KIDS Coalition's implementation was associated with a reduction in severe unintentional pediatric injuries.
- Specifically, severe motor vehicle occupant injuries showed a notable decrease.
- While causality isn't proven, the findings suggest community coalitions may play a role in mitigating severe childhood injuries.
Objective:
To assess the relationship between the implementation of a SAFE KIDS Coalition and pediatric unintentional injury rates.
Setting:
Shelby County, Tennessee.
Design:
Retrospective observational analysis.
Patients:
County residents nine years of age or younger presenting to the children's medical center, its emergency department, or its outpatient clinics from 1990-97.
Intervention:
Implementation of a SAFE KIDS Coalition.
Main Outcome Measures:
Rates of unintentional injuries targeted by the SAFE KIDS Coalition that resulted in hospitalization or in death. Rates of motor vehicle occupant injuries that resulted in hospitalization or in death. Rates of non-targeted unintentional injuries, namely injuries secondary to animals and by exposure to toxic plants. Rates of severe injuries (defined as those targeted injuries that required hospitalization or resulted in death), and specifically, severe motor vehicle occupant injuries were compared before and after the inception of the coalition using Poisson regression analysis.
Results:
The relative risk of targeted severe injury rates decreased after implementation of the coalition even after controlling for changes in hospital admission rates. Specifically, severe motor vehicle occupant injury rates decreased 30% (relative risk 0.70; 95% confidence interval 0.54 to 0.89) after initiation of the coalition.
Conclusions:
The implementation of a SAFE KIDS Coalition was associated with a decrease in severe targeted injuries, most notably, severe motor vehicle occupant injuries. Although causality cannot be determined, these data suggest that the presence of a coalition may be associated with decreased severe unintentional injury rates.
