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Risk and protective factors for falls from furniture in young children multicenter case-control study

Kendrick, Denise; Maula, Asiya; Reading, Richard; Hindmarch, Paul; Coupland, Carol; Watson, Michael; Hayes, Mike; Deave, Toity

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Authors

Denise Kendrick

Asiya Maula

Richard Reading

Paul Hindmarch

Carol Coupland

Michael Watson

Mike Hayes

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Toity Deave Toity.Deave@uwe.ac.uk
Associate Professor in Child & Family Health



Abstract

© Copyright 2015 American Medical Association. All rights reserved. IMPORTANCE: Falls from furniture are common in young children but there is little evidence on protective factors for these falls. OBJECTIVE: To estimate associations for risk and protective factors for falls from furniture in children aged 0 to 4 years. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Multicenter case-control study at hospitals, minor injury units, and general practices in and around 4 UK study centers. Recruitment commenced June 14, 2010, and ended April 27, 2012. Participants included 672 children with falls from furniture and 2648 control participants matched on age, sex, calendar time, and study center. Thirty-five percent of cases and 33%of control individuals agreed to participate. The mean age was 1.74 years for cases and 1.91 years for control participants. Fifty-four percent of cases and 56%of control participants were male. Exposures included safety practices, safety equipment use, and home hazards. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Falls from furniture occurring at the child's home resulting in attendance at an emergency department, minor injury unit, or hospital admission. RESULTS: Compared with parents of control participants, parents of cases were significantly more likely not to use safety gates in the home (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.65; 95%CI, 1.29-2.12) and not to have taught their children rules about climbing on kitchen objects (AOR, 1.58; 95%CI, 1.16-2.15). Cases aged 0 to 12 months were significantly more likely to have been left on raised surfaces (AOR, 5.62; 95%CI, 3.62-8.72), had their diapers changed on raised surfaces (AOR, 1.89; 95%CI, 1.24-2.88), and been put in car/bouncing seats on raised surfaces (AOR, 2.05; 95%CI, 1.29-3.27). Cases 3 years and older were significantly more likely to have played or climbed on furniture (AOR, 9.25; 95%CI, 1.22-70.07). Cases were significantly less likely to have played or climbed on garden furniture (AOR, 0.74; 95%CI, 0.56-0.97). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: If estimated associations are causal, some falls from furniture may be prevented by incorporating advice into child health contacts, personal child health records, and home safety assessments about use of safety gates; not leaving children, changing diapers, or putting children in car/bouncing seats on raised surfaces; allowing children to play or climb on furniture; and teaching children safety rules about climbing on objects.

Citation

Kendrick, D., Maula, A., Reading, R., Hindmarch, P., Coupland, C., Watson, M., …Deave, T. (2015). Risk and protective factors for falls from furniture in young children multicenter case-control study. JAMA Pediatrics, 169(2), 145-153. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2014.2374

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Jan 1, 2015
Deposit Date Feb 4, 2015
Publicly Available Date Feb 13, 2016
Journal JAMA Pediatrics
Print ISSN 2168-6203
Publisher American Medical Association
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 169
Issue 2
Pages 145-153
DOI https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2014.2374
Keywords children, falls, furniture, accidents, risk
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/839031
Publisher URL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2014.2374

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