POSTPARTUM PATIENTS‘ KNOWLEDGE,RISK PERCEPTIONS,AND BEHAVIORS PERTAINING TO CHILDHOOD INJURIES

The purpose of this study was to assess postpartum patients' knowledge, risk perceptions, and behaviors pertaining to a variety of childhood injuries. Although the respondents did demonstrate some knowledge of injury prevention strategies, deficits were noted in the areas of burns, motor vehicle injuries, drownings, and falls, as well as in the concept that injuries, in some children, are unavoidable. Results showed that greater than 50% of mothers did not know the temperature of their hot water tank. 22.4% who had other children under the age of four did not use car safety seats with them, and only 43% of the mothers knew how to perform infant cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Recommendations for program development in parenting classes are included in addition to the roles of nurses and nurse-midwives in injury prevention program activities.     

Middle School Students and Bicycle Helmet Use: Knowledge, Attitudes, Beliefs, and Behaviors

ABSTRACT: Previous research has shown that bicycle helmet use among older children and adolescents continues to be low. This study determined middle school students' knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors related to bicycle helmet use. Six middle schools in Hillsborough County, Fla., served as the research settings. A pretested survey instrument was administered to students. Overall. 3,333 sixth and seventh graders responded. Results showed that most children owned a bicycle, 38.1% owned a helmet, but only 15.8% wore a helmet the last time they rode a bike. Many students (49.7%) did not know or did not believe there was a bicycle helmet law in Florida. Predictors of helmet use were intention to use a helmet the next time one rides a bike, having a helmet, siblings' use of helmets, and friends' use of helmets.     

Toll-like receptor and IL-12 signaling control susceptibility to contact hypersensitivity

Allergic contact hypersensitivity (CHS) is a T cell–mediated inflammatory skin disease. Interleukin (IL)-12 is considered to be important in the generation of the allergen-specific T cell response. Loss of IL-12 function in IL-12Rβ2–deficient mice, however, did not ameliorate the allergic immune response, suggesting alternate IL-12–independent pathways in the induction of CHS. Because exposure to contact allergens always takes place in the presence of microbial skin flora, we investigated the potential role of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) in the induction of CHS. Using mice deficient in TLR4, the receptor for bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), IL-12 receptor (R) β2, or both, we show that the concomitant absence of TLR4 and IL-12Rβ2, but not the absence of TLR4 or IL-12Rβ2 alone, prevented DC-mediated sensitization, generation of effector T cells, and the subsequent CHS response to 2,4,6-trinitro-1-chlorobenzene (TNCB), oxazolone, and fluorescein isothiocyanate. Introduction of the TLR4 transgene into the TLR4/IL-12Rβ2 mutant restored the CHS inducibility, showing a requirement for TLR4 in IL-12–independent CHS induction. Furthermore, the concomitant absence of TLR2 and TLR4 prevented the induction of CHS to TNCB in IL-12–competent mice. Finally, CHS was inducible in germ-free wild-type and IL-12Rβ2–deficient mice, but not in germ-free TLR4/IL-12Rβ2 double deficient mice, suggesting that the necessary TLR activation may proceed via endogenous ligands.     

Children''s bicycle helmet use and injuries in Hillsborough County, Florida before and after helmet legislation

The purpose of this research was to explore the changes in children's bicycle helmet use and motor vehicle bicycle related injuries in Hillsborough County, Florida before and after passage of the Florida's bicycle helmet law for children under the age of 16. The results show a significant increase in bicycle helmet use among children, ages 5-13, in the post-law years compared with the pre-law years. Also, there has been a significant decline in the rates of bicycle related motor vehicle injuries among children in the post-law years compared with the pre-law years. Although there have been complementary educational and outreach activities in the county to support helmet use, it appears that the greatest increase in use occurred after the passage of the helmet law. It is recommended that educational efforts continue to sustain helmet use rates and decreases in injuries.     

Postpartum patients' knowledge, risk perceptions, and behaviors pertaining to childhood injuries.

The purpose of this study was to assess postpartum patients' knowledge, risk perceptions, and behaviors pertaining to a variety of childhood injuries. Although the respondents did demonstrate some knowledge of injury prevention strategies, deficits were noted in the areas of burns, motor vehicle injuries, drownings, and falls, as well as in the concept that injuries, in some children, are unavoidable. Results showed that greater than 50% of mothers did not know the temperature of their hot water tank, 22.4% who had other children under the age of four did not use car safety seats with them, and only 43% of the mothers knew how to perform infant cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Recommendations for program development in parenting classes are included in addition to the roles of nurses and nurse-midwives in injury prevention program activities.     

The MORE HEALTH Bicycle Safety Project

ABSTRACT: A K-2 MORE HEALTH bicycle safety education program was provided in nine elementary schools in Hillsborough County, Florida. This innovative community program consisted of interactive education sessions and reduced-cost bicycle helmet sales. Evaluation of the pilot program showed that it affected helmet use in the intervention schools compared to nine other schools that served as controls. More than 1,000 helmets were distributed through the bicycle helmet sales. Approximately 3,500 children participated in the education sessions. The preprogram helmet use rate among all schools was 8.5%. Postprogram results showed that the helmet use rate among intervention schools was significantly greater than among control schools (p < .01). This report describes the MORE HEALTH bicycle helmet promotion program.