Injury in children of low-income Mexican, Mexican American, and non-Hispanic white mothers in the USA: a focused ethnography

Citation
Ds. Mull et al., Injury in children of low-income Mexican, Mexican American, and non-Hispanic white mothers in the USA: a focused ethnography, SOCIAL SC M, 52(7), 2001, pp. 1081-1091
Citations number
36
Categorie Soggetti
Public Health & Health Care Science
Journal title
SOCIAL SCIENCE & MEDICINE
ISSN journal
02779536 → ACNP
Volume
52
Issue
7
Year of publication
2001
Pages
1081 - 1091
Database
ISI
SICI code
0277-9536(200104)52:7<1081:IICOLM>2.0.ZU;2-7
Abstract
Several studies indicate that rates of serious pediatric injury are higher among Hispanics than among non-Hispanic whites in the USA. To investigate p ossible contributory Factors, we interviewed 50 Mexican, 30 Mexican America n, and 30 non-Hispanic white mothers in their own homes in the same low-inc ome neighborhoods of Southern California. Mothers were identified via door- to-door canvassing in areas with high rates of pediatric injury. We observe d household conditions and behaviors and obtained a detailed family history , including accounts of any occurrence of serious injury in a child under 5 years old, the highest-risk age group for pediatric injury. Results show t hat Mexican families were poorer, less educated, and lived in more hazardou s and crowded conditions than did families in the other two groups. Neverth eless, they benefited fi om strong family bonds and a cultural tradition in which responsible older children typically supervise younger siblings. In contrast, a number of Mexican American and white mothers had been abused as children and were estranged from their own mothers; hence they lacked supp ort and models of good parenting. There was much less self-reported smoking , drug use, and mental dysfunction among the Mexican mothers and their male partners as well as much less excessively active and/or aggressive behavio r among their children. The nature of the injuries reported by the various groups seemed to reflect these differences. Appropriate interventions for e ach group are discussed. The study illustrates the importance of using ethn ographic methods to examine the context of pediatric injury at the househol d level. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.