IN-OFFICE SURVEY OF CHILDRENS HAZARD EXPOSURE IN THE CHICAGO AREA - AGE-SPECIFIC EXPOSURE INFORMATION AND METHODOLOGICAL LESSONS

Anticipatory guidance on injury prevention should reflect the risks ch ildren face, yet hazard exposure information is generally unavailable. The objectives of this study were (1) to obtain information on age-sp ecific exposure of Chicago-area children to amusement park rides, sled s, snow discs, bunkbeds, skateboards, fireworks, toboggans, and air gu ns and (2) to assess methodological issues in gathering exposure infor mation by parental survey in pediatric practices. Questionnaires were received from 679 families, including 1469 children. The proportion of families with at least one exposed child varied: amusement park rides (94%), sleds (67%), snow discs (25%), bunkbeds (24%), skateboards (22 %), fireworks (17%), toboggans (15%), and air guns and rifles (6%). Us e of skateboards, air guns and rifles, and bunkbeds was highest in mal es. Use of skateboards, air guns and rifles, and snow discs peaked amo ng young adolescents (ages 10 to 14), whereas use of sleds, toboggans and amusement park rides peaked among young children (ages 5 to 9) and young adolescents. Use of bunkbeds peaked among young children. Log l inear analyses found: the likelihood of exposure to sleds and snow dis cs was highest in rural communities and for families owning their own home; toboggan exposure was highest among home owners; air gun and rif le exposure was highest in rural areas; fireworks exposure decreased w ith increased paternal education; exposure to skateboards was highest in single family dwellings and suburban home owners. This study genera tes the only available current estimates for use of these products, an d demonstrates that in-off ice parental surveys concerning exposure ar e feasible. The findings can help guide future hazard exposure researc h and may affect anticipatory guidance in some settings. Future studie s should concentrate on larger populations to allow calculation of exp osure-corrected injury risk and to assess regional differences.