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
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.