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Left-Behind Children and Risk of Unintentional Injury in Rural China—A Cross-Sectional Survey

Author

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  • Sha Ma

    (The Institute of Social and Family Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 866 Yuhangtang Lu, Hangzhou 310012, China)

  • Minmin Jiang

    (The Institute of Social and Family Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 866 Yuhangtang Lu, Hangzhou 310012, China)

  • Feng Wang

    (The Institute of Social and Family Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 866 Yuhangtang Lu, Hangzhou 310012, China)

  • Jingjing Lu

    (The Institute of Social and Family Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 866 Yuhangtang Lu, Hangzhou 310012, China)

  • Lu Li

    (The Institute of Social and Family Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 866 Yuhangtang Lu, Hangzhou 310012, China)

  • Therese Hesketh

    (The Centre for Global Health, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 866 Yuhangtang Lu, Hangzhou 310012, China
    The UCL Institute for Global Health, 30 Guilford St, London WC1N1EH, UK)

Abstract

Unintentional injury is the leading cause of childhood death and disability in many countries worldwide. This study aimed to quantify rates and risk factors for childhood unintentional injury in areas of rural China, where many children are left behind by migrant worker parents. We administered a questionnaire to children aged 9 to 15, in 56 schools in five counties in Zhejiang and Guizhou provinces. Of the 3791 respondents, 44% lived with both parents, 23% with one parent, and 33% with neither. Around half the children (47.9%) had suffered at least one unintentional injury in the past year, with burns (26%), animal bites (20%) and mechanical injury (18%) the most common. Left-behind children had no increased risk of unintentional injury, but children living in poorer Guizhou ( p = 0.001), of divorced parents ( p = 0.02), and less well-educated mothers ( p = 0.02) were associated with higher risk. Virtual absence of personal level risk factors highlights the importance of addressing environmental risk to reduce childhood injury. The findings have informed a community-based intervention to reduce injury risk through raising awareness of environmental hazards, and through removal of specific hazards. Importantly, the Chinese government should ensure that known effective interventions are subject to legislation and enforcement.

Suggested Citation

  • Sha Ma & Minmin Jiang & Feng Wang & Jingjing Lu & Lu Li & Therese Hesketh, 2019. "Left-Behind Children and Risk of Unintentional Injury in Rural China—A Cross-Sectional Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-9, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:3:p:403-:d:202253
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Yafei Tan & Di Ma & Ying Chen & Fuyuan Cheng & Xiangxiang Liu & Liping Li, 2015. "Relationships between Sleep Behaviors and Unintentional Injury in Southern Chinese School-Aged Children: A Population-Based Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-17, October.
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    4. Bo-Ling Cao & Xiu-Quan Shi & Yong-Hong Qi & Ya Hui & Hua-Jun Yang & Shang-Peng Shi & Li-Rong Luo & Hong Zhang & Xin Wang & Ying-Ping Yang, 2015. "Effect of a Multi-Level Education Intervention Model on Knowledge and Attitudes of Accidental Injuries in Rural Children in Zunyi, Southwest China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-12, April.
    5. Kendrick, Denise & Mulvaney, Caroline & Burton, Paul & Watson, Michael, 2005. "Relationships between child, family and neighbourhood characteristics and childhood injury: A cohort study," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 61(9), pages 1905-1915, November.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jing Luo & Jiaojiao Zou & Meimei Ji & Tong Yuan & Mei Sun & Qian Lin, 2019. "Emotional and Behavioral Problems Among 3- to 5-Year-Olds Left-Behind Children in Poor Rural Areas of Hunan Province: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(21), pages 1-12, October.
    2. Hao, Jun & Hsueh, Yeh & Kitzmann, Katherine, 2023. "An exploratory study of salient family risk factors in relation to preschoolers’ unintentional injury in northwest China," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 147(C).
    3. Yue Tang & Li Zhu & Jiang Li & Ni Zhang & Yilin Sun & Xiaokang Wang & Honglin Wu, 2023. "Assessment of Perceived Factors of Road Safety in Rural Left-Behind Children’s Independent Travel: A Case Study in Changsha, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-23, June.

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