Injury and Its Correlates Among 1-Year-Old Children

Abstract

Factors associated with injury in the first year of life were examined using data on a random sample of infants in eight regions in the United States. By 1 year of age, 8.6% of the 4,989 infants surveyed had had an injury for which medical care was sought, although serious sequelae (eg, death and developmental delay) were infrequent. The data suggest that the achievement of independent mobility, eg, walking, was a major factor in the risk of injury. Other risk factors included very young mothers and isolated mothers, but not socioeconomic status, illness in the infant, or low birth weight. However, identification of small groups at very high risk is not possible, so that health professionals should be prepared to counsel all new parents early about injuries.

Assessing Injuries with Proxies: Implications for Understanding Concurrent Relations and Behavioral Antecedents of Pediatric Injuries

“…Across all injury assessments, maternal depression (e.g., Schwebel & Brezausek, 2008), children's externalizing behavior problems (e.g., , and child sex (e.g., Morrongiello & Hogg, 2004) predicted children's risk for injury prospectively. This study failed to support previous research that suggests children of younger parents are at increased risk for injury (e.g., McCormick, Shapiro, & Starfield, 1981). Furthermore, two contextual variables, an SES aggregate and an assessment of the home environment, did not predict children's injuries prospectively.…”

Unintentional Infant Injuries: Sociodemographic and Psychosocial Factors

“…The frequency of unintentional infant injury among this mainly low-income group of mothers was high (36%). However, the distribution of injuries by type is consistent with other research (McCormick et al, 1981;Rivara et al, 1988;Runyan et al, 1985;Waller et al, 1989).…”

“…The significant relationship between infant injury and maternal unemployment and poverty (receiving AFDC or Medicaid) were previously reported (Larson & Pless, 1988;Locke et al, 1986;McCormick et al, 1981;Nersesian et al, 1985). However, that two or more other siblings in the home was protective for the infant is somewhat surprising, since other studies observed that having more siblings places infants at a higher risk of injury (Bourguet & McArtor, 1989;Schor, 1987).…”

Injuries Experienced by Infant Children: A Population-Based Epidemiological Analysis

“…Although childhood injuries occur frequently and their epidemiology has been described, 1,[7][8] studies that focus on the very young are uncommon. Infant injuries are unique in that someone older is always providing direct care to the child and hence is a responsible authority associated with the injury event.…”