The impact of a home visitation programme on household hazards associated with unintentional childhood injuries: A randomised controlled trial
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Authors
Odendaal, Willem
van Niekerk, Ashley
Jordaan, Esme
Seedat, Mohamed
Issue Date
2009
Type
Article
Language
en
Keywords
Home visitation; Multi-component intervention; Paraprofessional home visitors; Randomised controlled trial; Unintentional childhood injuries Hazards; Health risks; Paraffin waxes; Paraffins; Risk assessment; Risk management; Home visitation; Multi-component intervention; Paraprofessional home visitors; Randomised controlled trial; Unintentional childhood injuries; Health hazards
Alternative Title
Abstract
Background: The continued high mortality and morbidity rates for unintentional childhood injuries remain a public health concern. This article reports on the influence of a home visitation programme (HVP) on household hazards associated with unintentional childhood injuries in a South African low-income setting. Methods: A randomised controlled trial (n = 211 households) was conducted in a South African informal settlement. Community members were recruited and trained as paraprofessional visitors. Four intervention visits were conducted over 3 months, focusing on child development, and the prevention of burn, poison, and fall injuries. The HVP, a multi-component intervention, included educational inputs, provision of safety devices, and an implicit enforcement strategy. The intervention effect (IE) was measured with a standardised risk assessment index that compared post-intervention scores for intervention and control households. Results: A significant reduction was observed in the hazards associated with electrical and paraffin appliances, as well as in hazards related to poisoning. Non-significant changes were observed for burn safety household practices and fall injury hazards. Conclusions: This study confirmed that a multi-component HVP effectively reduced household hazards associated with electrical and paraffin appliances and poisoning among children in a low-income South African setting. © 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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Citation
Willem Odendaal; Ashley van Niekerk; Esme Jordaan; MohamedSeedat (2009) The impact of a home visitation programme on household hazards associated with unintentional childhood injuries: A randomised controlled trial. Accident Analysis & Prevention
Volume 41, Issue 1, January 2009, Pages 183-190
Publisher
Elsevier
License
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Volume
Issue
PubMed ID
DOI
ISSN
14575