Understanding differences between high and low childhood accident rate areas: the importance of qualitative data

Abstract

Qualitatively orientated sociological research into parental perspectives on childhood safety contributes to an understanding of the reasons for the social patterning of childhood accidents. Such information should be of help to professionals in their prevention and safety promotion work.

Gender inequality in the risk of violence: material deprivation is linked to higher risk for adolescent girls

“…Studies of parents' attitudes to injury risk indicate that they vary by different social group 21. In a qualitative study involving interviews with parents of injured children residing in affluent and deprived areas, parents living in different neighbourhoods perceived risk and responsibility in different ways.…”

Area socioeconomic status and childhood injury morbidity in New South Wales, Australia

“…Factors such as lone parenting,29 30 young maternal age,4 31 low maternal education, and large family size4 have all been suggested to increase a child’s risk of injury. Other studies indicate a difference in parental risk perception and sense of responsibility for child safety between affluent and deprived areas 32. Work in Mexico has indicated differences in parental knowledge and the practice of childhood safety 33.…”

An ethnography of low-income mothers' safeguarding efforts

“…Although the primary focus of previous research has been on cognitive or attitudinal factors influencing parental safety behaviors, there have been a few studies that have examined the influence of contextual factors such as cultural factors (Mull, Agran, Winn, & Anderson, 2001), social norms (Sellstrom & Bremberg, 1996), income levels, maternal stress, social support, housing conditions, and traffic hazards (Glik et al, 1993;Glik, Kronenfeld, & Jackson, 1991;Roberts, Smith, & Bryce, 1995;Sparks, Craven, & Worth, 1994). Surprisingly, parents' own views about their safety practices and experiences have received very limited attention (Roberts, Smith et al, 1995).…”

“…Parental safety efforts have been defined in a variety of ways including routine practices used by parents (Sparks et al, 1994), mothers' responses to hazards (Mull et al, 2001), safe keeping activities of parents (Roberts, Smith et al, 1995), and caregiver decisions about injury prevention strategies (Saluja et al, 2004). In addition, the concept of safeguarding has been used to describe how mothers keep themselves and their children safe from family and community violence (Mohr, Fantuzzo, & Abdul-Kabir, 2001).…”