Injuries in children of adolescent mothers: home safety education associated with decreased injury risk.

The purpose of this study was to describe the epidemiology of injuries in children of adolescent mothers (< 18 years old at delivery), in Baltimore, MD, and to explore the relationship between maternal receipt of home safety information and child injury. A random sample of 363 adolescent mothers and their children were followed longitudinally by home interview at 3 and 15 months postpartum. Receipt of home safety information and information source were assessed at the 3-month interview. Injuries requiring medical attention were assessed at the 15-month interview. Sixty-eight children sustained injuries during follow-up and 14% required hospitalization. Falls and burns predominated as the cause of injury, with burns much more common in girls. The children of mothers who received home safety information from family and community-based sources by 3 months postpartum had significantly lower risk of injury during follow-up than children of mothers who had not received home safety information. As the number of information sources increased, the injury rate decreased. Further work is needed to examine the most appropriate timing, repetition, format, and content of injury prevention education.