For Debate: Social policy as a cause of childhood accidents: the children of lone mothers

Abstract

Almost one in five British mothers is a lone mother. Their children have injury rates that are twice those of children in two parent families. In this article the link between lone parenthood and childhood injury is examined. The increased injury rates for the children of lone mothers can be explained by the poverty, poor housing conditions, and social isolation of lone mothers in Britain. The problem of reconciling the demands of paid work with the demands of the unpaid work of childrearing is particularly difficult for lone mothers, who find themselves in a benefit dependent poverty trap. Many such mothers would seek paid work if affordable day care were available. Day care would also provide a safe environment for their children, who are otherwise exposed to the environmental hazards of poor housing. Provision of day care is a social policy that would have important effects on the health and welfare of lone mothers and their children. These effects deserve to be properly evaluated.

Child pedestrian casualties and deprivation

“…This is consistent with the literature (for example Judge and Benzeval, 1993;Roberts and Pless, 1995), and through examination of cross collinearity, lone parenthood was shown to be frequently correlated to a significant degree with crime and low qualifications. This potential reinforcement of disadvantage indicates the complexity of the child pedestrian problem, and arguably highlights the need for a multi-disciplinary approach.…”

Socioeconomic situation and health outcomes of single parents

“…Weitoft et al drew the conclusion from their extensive data that growing up with only one parent is associated with health disadvantages for children (Weitoft et al 2003). Thus, McGrath et al (2002) also describe a higher incidence of caries, Fleming et al (1998), Roberts and Power (1995), Whitehead and Drever (1999) a raised accident rate, and Fleming et al (1998), a poor immunization status. Lone parenting is associated with lower birth weight and also a lack of physical and emotional care and attention (Pattenden et al 1999;Fleming et al 1998).…”

An ethnography of low-income mothers' safeguarding efforts

“…It is estimated that between 50% and 70% of unintentional injury deaths to children less than five years of age occur in and around the home (Glik, Greaves, Kronenfeld, & Jackson, 1993;Pollock, McGee, & Rodriguez, 1996). Poorer children have been shown to suffer greater numbers and severity of injuries (Laflamme, 1998;Pomerantz, Dowd, & Buncher, 2001;Roberts & Pless, 1995).…”