DETERMINANTS OF CHILDHOOD POISON INGESTIONS

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Two million children a year have significant exposure to poison; over 3,000 die each year and poisonings are the third most common cause for emergency room visits for children under 6 years of age. In 1984, Rochester Life Line received 5,312 telephone calls for assistance with ingestions by children 4 years of age and under. The major goal of the research is to identify the specification combinations of variables that best explain risk of childhood poisoning. The specific aims of the study are: 1) to determine the sociodemographic, predisposing, life events and situation, social network, behavioral and preventive health belief factors that affect childhood poison ingestions; 2) to assess the interrelationships of health protective behaviors for children; 3) to examine the relationship between health protective behaviors for children and poison ingestions; and 4) to examine the relative contributions of these factors to poison ingestions. Findings will permit us to recommend intervention strategies for reducing risk factors. A case-control study, using a stratified systematic random sample of children 4 years of age and under ingesting a poisonous substance for which either Life Line has been called for assistance or a visit has been made to a pediatric emergency department (Strong Memorial Hospital, St. Mary's Hospital, or Rochester General Hospital) and controls (matched for regular source of medical care, age, and geographic location of residence) from practices of community pediatricians, will be conducted. Ingestions will be limited to 2 broad substance categories: household cleaning products and home repair and maintenance products. 168 cases and 169 controls will be selected in each of the substance categories (total N = 672). Data will be collected by home interview with mothers of cases and controls, observational check for storage of hazardous substances, and Life Line and emergency department records. The analyses will focus on case-control differences on risk factors of interest and the relative contributions of sociodemographic characteristics, predisposing factors, life events and situations, behavioral problems, preventive health beliefs and health protective behaviros to poisoning.