CHILDRENS HOUSEHOLD EXPOSURE TO GUNS - A PEDIATRIC PRACTICE-BASED SURVEY

Guns in the home are a factor in pediatric unintentional and intention al firearm injuries, yet the patterns of ownership and use are unclear . Objectives. To describe the prevalence of firearms in households con taining children who go to pediatricians, the types of firearms owned, the purposes of such ownership, the conditions of firearm storage, an d the social correlates of ownership. Methods. Survey of parents atten ding 29 (urban, suburban, and rural) pediatric practices in Chicago, N ew Jersey, Houston, Utah, Georgia, Iowa, and South Carolina for well o r sick child care during a I-week study period. The main outcome measu re was ownership of rifle/shotgun and/or handgun. Results. Gun ownersh ip was reported by 37% of 5233 respondent families: rifles (26%), hand guns (17%), and powder firearm (32%). Ownership varied significantly a cross practices and geographical locations. Thirteen percent of 823 ha ndguns and 1% of 1327 rifles were reported both unlocked and loaded. R ecreation was the most common reason for both rifle (75%) and handgun (59%) ownership; 48% of handguns were kept for self-protection versus 21% of rifles. In logistic regression models, predictor variables for firearm ownership included rural area, single family dwelling, at leas t one adult male, and fewer preschool children (for handgun and rifle) ; mother with at least 12 years education (for handgun), and white mot her (for rifle). Conclusions. The data presented suggest that US pedia tricians routinely see children in families that own firearms, includi ng a worrisome number that keep loaded and unlocked handguns. Until mo re detailed information becomes available, it is reasonable for pediat ricians to be guided by these data, and so to counsel routinely about gun exposure.