Behavioral Antecedents of Pediatric Poisonings

Abstract

To determine how the behavior of 3- to 7-year-olds might contribute to pediatric poisoning, a taxonomy of pediatric ingestions was conceptualized and tested. Thirty-nine of 50 caretakers who called the Middle Tennessee Poison Center about poison ingestions by a child in this age group provided details of the poisoning history and family characteristics. Histories were coded by a psychologist according to the 14 antecedent conditions of the poisoning taxonomy. Improper storage, noncompliant behavior, curiosity, misinterpretation of the substance, improper child monitoring, and imitative behavior were judged the most common antecedent conditions of these ingestions. Lack of knowledge of poison prevention methods was infrequently coded. Noncompliant behavior as a condition of the poisoning was associated with parental reports of general child behavioral problems. Ingestions involving imitative behavior were associated with parental report of poor social supports. The findings highlight the need to address behavior in designing poison prevention programs.

Fatores de risco que contribuem para o envenenamento pediátrico

“…In this sense, Brayden et al 12 found that 13% of parents were distracted at the time of the poisoning accident. The authors also noted that poisonings occur due to several factors, such as improper storage and curiosity of children.…”

“…12 The attributable fraction was estimated by the formula P e (OR -1) / 1 + P e (OR -1), where P e is the proportion of population exposure to distraction (13%),…”

“…[12][13][14] The parents or legal guardians signed a written consent form in the hospital, and a structured questionnaire, with 81 questions and mean duration of 20 minutes, was then administered. 11,12 The independent variables analyzed were divided into the following sections: sociodemographic data (questions regarding children's sex, age and height);…”

“…12 Regarding knowledge of the toxic action of agents available in the home, the following questions were considered: storage site of the agent (box, cabinet, and box in a cabinet); height at which the agent is or was stored …”

Risk factors contributing to childhood poisoning

“…A partir da frequência obtida na análise multivariada, em relação aos dados encontrados por Brayden para a variável distração, foram calculadas as frações atribuíveis na população estudada para as variáveis: altura do agente estar abaixo de 150 cm e estar distraído no momento em que as crianças estão sob a guarda de seus cuidadores, em seus domicílios 12 . A fração atribuível foi estimada pela fórmula P e (OR -1) / 1 + P e (OR -1), onde P e é a proporção de exposição na população para distração (13%), OR é chance da doença nos expostos/chance da doença entre os não expostos [12][13][14] .…”