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ARTICLES:
David Bishai, Jamie L. Trevitt, Yiduo Zhang, Lara B. McKenzie, Tama Leventhal, Andrea Carlson Gielen, and Bernard Guyer
Risk Factors for Unintentional Injuries in Children: Are Grandparents Protective?
Pediatrics 2008; 122: e980-e987 [Abstract] [Full text] [PDF]
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[Read eLetters] UK study supports findings
Richard Reading   (5 February 2009)

UK study supports findings 5 February 2009
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Richard Reading,
paediatrician
University of East Anglia, UK

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Re: UK study supports findings

r.reading{at}uea.ac.uk Richard Reading

The finding that grandparents care may protect against child injury is intuitive, but as the authors point out, is not well documented. In a previous study from the UK we showed that the number of adults in a household was inversely related to the risk of injury in 5-14 year old children. Thus the risk was higher for households with one adult, and lower for households with three adults, and lower still for households with four adults. We were not able to demonstrate that this was related to grandparent care, but the findngs both support those in this study, and also suggest a different interpretation on the common finding that lone parenthood is a risk factor - perhaps not because of any deficiencies in supervision or protection by lone parents, but simply due to the reduced number of adults.

Reference: Haynes R, Reading R, Gale S. Household and neighbourhood risks for injury to 5-14 year old children. Social Science and Medicine. 2003;57:625-636

Conflict of Interest:

None declared