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Original Article
Evaluation of a child safety program based on the WHO Safe Community model
  1. K Lindqvist1,
  2. T Timpka1,
  3. L Schelp2,
  4. O Risto3
  1. 1Linköping University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Health and Society, Division of Preventive and Social Medicine, Linköping, Sweden
  2. 2Karolinska Institute, Department of Public Health Sciences, Division of Social Medicine, Norrbacka, Stockholm, and National Institute of Public Health, Stockholm, Sweden
  3. 3Linköping University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Neuroscience and Locomotion, Division of Orthopaedics, Linköping, Sweden
  1. Correspondence and requests for reprints to:
 Dr Kent Lindqvist, Division of Preventive and Social Medicine, Department of Health and Society, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, S-581 85 Linköping, Sweden;
 kenli{at}ihm.liu.se

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the outcome of the World Health Organization (WHO) Safe Community model with respect to child injuries.

Study design: A population based quasiexperimental design was used. Cross sectional pre-implementation and post-implementation data were collected in intervention (Motala municipality) and control (Mjölby municipality) areas, both in Östergötland county, Sweden.

Results: The total relative risk of child injury in the intervention community decreased more (odds ratio 0.74; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.68 to 0.81) than in a control community exposed only to national level injury prevention programs (0.93; 95% CI 0.82 to 1.05). The relative risk of moderately (abbreviated injury scale (AIS) 2) severe injury in the study area was reduced to almost a half (odds ratio 0.49; 95% CI 0.41 to 0.57), whereas the risk of minor (AIS 1) injuries decreased only slightly (odds ratio 0.89; 95% CI 0.80 to 0.99). The risk of severe or fatal (AIS 3–6) injuries remained constant.

Conclusions: After introduction of an injury prevention program based on the WHO Safe Community model, the relative risk for child injury in the intervention community decreased significantly more than in a control community exposed only to national injury prevention programs.

  • Safe Community
  • child safety program
  • evaluation
  • community based intervention
  • quasiexperimental studies
  • AIS, abbreviated injury scale
  • CI, confidence interval
  • CSC, Child Safety Council
  • WHO, World Health Organization
  • Safe Community
  • child safety program
  • evaluation
  • community based intervention
  • quasiexperimental studies
  • AIS, abbreviated injury scale
  • CI, confidence interval
  • CSC, Child Safety Council
  • WHO, World Health Organization

https://doi.org/10.1136/ip.8.1.23

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    Linked Articles

    • Editorial
      Evaluation and other issues
      I B Pless
      Injury Prevention 2002; 8 1-2 Published Online First: 01 Mar 2002. doi: 10.1136/ip.8.1.1