Home/.../Facts and Figures/Infant, Child and Youth Health/Childhood Injury Prevention: Beliefs and Percepti...

Childhood Injury Prevention: Beliefs and Perceptions

Data Sources: Rapid Risk Factor Surveillance System (RRFSS), 2007 & 2011

Sample: Residents 18 years and over in the KFL&A area.

Released: December 2008

Leading causes of death in children

Figure A. Respondents' view of the leading cause of death in children ages 1 to 6 years in Ontario.

bar chart showing respondents' view of the leading cause of death in children ages 1 to 6 years

*Correct response

Table A. Respondents' view of the leading cause of death in children ages 1 to 6 years in Ontario, % (95% Confidence Interval).
Leading Cause of Death	2007 and 2001	2007	2011
Injuries and accidents*	20.6% (19, 22.2)	19.3% (17.2, 21.6)	21.8% (19.6, 24.1)
Illness and diseases	45.6% (43.7, 47.6)	47.6% (44.8, 50.4)	43.7% (41.1, 46.5)
Health problems children are born with	9.1% (8.1, 10.3)	9.5% (8, 11.2)	8.8% (7.4, 10.4)
Child abuse and neglect	16.8% (15.4, 18.3)	16.7% (14.7, 18.9)	16.9% (15, 19.1)
Don't know	7.7% (6.8, 8.7)	6.8% (5.6, 8.2)	8.6% (7.2, 10.1)

*Correct response

Interpretation for Figure A

In 2011, 21.8% (19.6, 24.1) of KFL&A area residents thought that injuries and accidents were the leading cause of death in children aged 1 to 6 in Ontario. This is the correct response.

Importance of preventable injuries and accidents for children

Figure B. Respondents' view of how preventable injuries and accidents are for children 0 to 6 years, KFL&A

bar chart showing respondents' view of how preventable injuries and accidents are for children 0 to 6 years

*Use with caution due to high variability.

Table B. Respondents' view of how preventable injuries and accidents are for children 0 to 6 years, KFL&A, % (95% Confidence Interval).
Year	Not preventable at all	Somewhat preventable	Very or completely preventable	Don't know
Total, 2007 and 2011	1.1*% (0.7, 1.5)	42.8% (40.9, 44.7)	53.9% (51.9, 55.8)	2.1% (1.7, 2.7)
2007 only	0.8*% (0.4, 1.5)	39.1% (36.5, 41.9)	57.5% (54.8, 60.2)	2.3% (1.7, 3.1)
2011 only	1.4*% (0.9, 2.1)	46.4% (43.7, 49.1)	50.3% (47.5, 53)	2% (1.4, 2.8)

*Use with caution due to high variability.

Interpretation for Figure B

In 2011, 50.3% (47.5, 53.0), of KFL&A area residents thought that injuries and accidents in children from birth to six years are very or completely preventable, which is significantly lower than 2007.

What is most likely to prevent children from being injured?

Figure C. Respondents' view of what is most likely to prevent a child (0 to 6 years) from being injured, KFL&A

bar chart showing respondents' view of what is most likely to prevent a child 0 to 6 years from being injured

Table C. Respondents' view of what is most likely to prevent a child (0 to 6 years) from being injured, KFL&A % (95% Confidence Interval).
Leading Cause of Death	2007 and 2011	2007	2011
Active supervision by a parent	84.3% (82.9, 85.7)	82.8% (80.6, 84.8)	85.8% (83.8, 87.6)
Safe toys and furniture	5.2% (4.3, 6.1)	5.3% (4.2, 6.7)	5% (3.9, 6.4)
Special products to keep children safe	5.5% (4.7, 6.4)	6.4% (5.2, 7.9)	4.6% (3.6, 5.8)

Interpretation for Figure C

In 2011, 85.8% (83.8, 87.6), of KFL&A area residents thought that active supervision by a parent was most likely to prevent a child birth to six years of age from being injured.

The difference a parent or caregiver can make in preventing children from being injured

Figure D. Respondents' view of how much a difference parents or caregivers can make in preventing injuries in children 0 to 6years, KFL&A

bar chart showing respondents' view of how much a difference parents or caregivers can make in preventing injuries in children 0 to 6 years

Table D. Respondents' view of how much a difference parents or caregivers can make in preventing injuries in children 0 to 6years, KFL&A, % (95% Confidence Interval).
Leading Cause of Death	2007 and 2011	2007	2011
Active supervision by a parent	2.5% (1.9, 3.1)	1.8% (1.3, 2.7)	3.1% (2.3, 4.1)
Safe toys and furniture	10.9% (9.7, 12.1)	11% (9.4, 12.9)	10.8% (9.2, 12.5)
Special products to keep children safe	84.8% (83.3, 86.1)	85% (82.9, 86.9)	84.5% (82.5, 86.3)

Interpretation for Figure D

In 2011, 84.5% (82.5, 86.3) of KFL&A area residents thought that parents or caregivers could make a difference in preventing injuries from happening to children birth to six years old.

Confidence intervals explained

Researchers look at the "confidence levels" of percentages being compared to decide if there is a statistically significant difference between percentages. A statistically significant difference means that:

the difference between two percentages is unlikely to have occurred by chance alone, and
there is a true difference or change in the percentages.

In this report, 95% confidence intervals will accompany each percentage in all figures and tables. This interval represents the range in which we are 95% confident the true percentage will fall within. In tables, the 95% confidence intervals will be written with the percentage, followed by the 95% confidence interval range in brackets (e.g., 25% (12.3, 32.4)). In figures, the 95% confidence interval is represented by vertical bars in each bar line.

Notes:

The RRFSS is a random-digit-dialed telephone survey of adults aged 18 years and older, conducted by the Institute for Social Research at York University, on behalf of KFL&A Public Health.