Missed opportunities to keep children safe? National survey of injury prevention activities of children’s centres

Watson, Michael Craig, Mulvaney, Caroline A., Timblin, Clare, Stewart, Jane, Coupland, Carol, Deave, Toity, Hayes, Mike and Kendrick, Denise (2016) Missed opportunities to keep children safe? National survey of injury prevention activities of children’s centres. Health Education Journal, 75 (7). pp. 833-842. ISSN 1748-8176

Full text not available from this repository.

Abstract

Objective: To ascertain the activities undertaken by children’s centres to prevent unintentional injuries in the under-fives and, in particular, the prevention of falls, poisoning and scalds.

Design: A questionnaire was posted to managers of 851 children’s centres, using stratified cluster sampling. The questionnaire included questions on injury prevention activities undertaken by the centre, knowledge and attitudes to injury prevention, partnership working, and barriers and facilitators to injury prevention.

Setting: England.

Results: A response rate of 61% was achieved. Most respondents (98%) agreed that children’s centres can be effective in preventing accidents. Over half of the respondents (59%) did not know whether there was an injury prevention group in their area, and 22% did not know whether there was a home safety equipment scheme. Only 12% knew the major cause of injury deaths in children under five. A variety of activities were being undertaken including one to one advice and issuing leaflets. However, for some important topics such as baby walkers and disposal of unwanted medicines, no advice was being provided in some areas. Lack of funding (52%) and lack of capacity (39%) were the most common reasons cited as barriers to injury prevention activities.

Conclusion: Injury prevention is an important activity undertaken by children’s centres. Given their position in the heart of the community, their potential as an agency to prevent injuries has been highlighted and recommended. Further support and resource will be needed if they are to fully develop their potential in preventing unintentional injuries in the home.

Item Type: Article
RIS ID: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/775356
Keywords: childrens centres; England; injury prevention; national survey
Schools/Departments: University of Nottingham, UK > Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > School of Medicine > Division of Primary Care
University of Nottingham, UK > Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > School of Health Sciences
Identification Number: https://doi.org/10.1177/0017896916629816
Depositing User: McCambridge, Mrs April
Date Deposited: 22 Nov 2016 11:36
Last Modified: 04 May 2020 17:35
URI: https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/id/eprint/38862

Actions (Archive Staff Only)

Edit View Edit View