Short- and long-term work-related consequences associated with childhood injuries on agricultural operations: Regional Rural Injury Study III. (19th October 2011)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Alexander, Bruce; Gerberich, Susan; Ryan, Andrew; Renier, Colleen; Church, Timothy; Masten, Ann; McGovern, Patricia; Mongin, Steven
• Is Part Of: Occupational and environmental medicine. Volume 68(2011)Supplement 1
• Page Start: A35
• Page End: A36
• Publication Date: 2011-10-19
• Subjects: Medicine, Industrial -- Periodicals; Environmental health -- Periodicals; 616.980305
• DOI: 10.1136/oemed-2011-100382.114
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1351-0711

Abstract

Abstract : Objectives: To evaluate the short- and long-term physical, psychosocial, and economic consequences of injuries to youth on agricultural operations. Methods: Baseline and follow-up telephone interviews were completed with 1474 eligible agricultural operation households in five Midwestern U.S. states. Two 6-month injury ascertainment periods followed baseline with annual follow-up for 2 years. Case and control households were compared for changes between baseline and follow-up on household metrics and child work characteristics 4 weeks prior to each interview. Cumulative logit models analysed differences in ordinal scales between case and control households, at each follow-up period, controlling for baseline. Results: In the two injury collection periods there were: 1) 100 case (122 Injuries), 366 control; and 2) 115 case (138 injuries), 414 control households. Among these, 35% of children and 7% of other household members lost agricultural work time; 5% and 7%, respectively, lost non-agricultural work time. 1-year post-injury case households had increased risk of lost time from operation-related work due to children's health issues (OR 2.1, 95% C.I. 1.1 to 4.1). Injured children versus their non-injured siblings in case households and children in control households had lower work effort ratings at 1-year post injury (OR and 95% CI 1.7, 1.0 to 2.7 and 1.4, 1.0 to 2.0 respectively). Injured children completed work/chores less frequently (OR 1.5, 95% C.I. 1.0 to 2.2) than children in control households. These associations did not persist in the second year of follow-up. Conclusions: Injuries to children on agricultural operations may affect work time and quality of work at the child and household level.