Citation

Shen J, Li S, Xiang H, Lu S, Schwebel DC. Accid. Anal. Prev. 2014; 63: 22-29.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1300 University Boulevard, CH 415, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA. Electronic address: jiabin@uab.edu.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.aap.2013.10.025

PMID

24252554

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Study the contextual antecedents and consequences of pediatric dog bites in rural China.

METHODS: A total of 101 caregivers from rural Anhui Province, China, whose children had suffered dog-bite injuries in the past year, participated in a structured interview about the circumstances, antecedents and consequences of their child's injury.

RESULTS: Contextual circumstances identified frequently included outside-home environment and presence of peers but not adult supervisors. Frequent antecedents were dogs' initiation of the encounter, children walking to/from school, and dogs unleashed. Consequences to children identified frequently were rabies vaccines, restricted activity, and fear of dogs. Developmental trends emerged, with bite circumstances differing by children's ages.

CONCLUSIONS: These results offer data on common antecedents and consequences of pediatric dog bites in rural China, a necessary prerequisite for development of empirically supported prevention programs in a vulnerable population.

Language: en