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Biomedical subjects

R Berfenstam

Publications and source records attributed to R Berfenstam.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

International comparisons of child injuries and prevention programs: recommendations for an improved prevention program in Germany.

OBJECTIVES: To compare child injury mortality in Germany with that of four neighboring countries, and to examine injury prevention models in these countries with a view to improving prevention programs in Germany. METHODS: Based on official cause of death certificates, child injury mortality rates in Germany are compared with those of Austria, The Netherlands, Sweden, and Switzerland. The main structures and funding of injury prevention programs in these countries are described. RESULTS: In all five countries, mortality is highest among children aged 1-4 years for home and leisure accidents and drownings. Transport accidents are the main cause of death in the 5-14 age group. Mortality in both age groups has fallen significantly since 1980, most markedly in Sweden and The Netherlands. CONCLUSION: Drawing on the injury mortality data and experience of the comparison countries, the following recommendations are proposed to further reduce home and leisure injuries among children in Germany: (1) establish a soundly funded, central institution responsible for child injury surveillance, research, and the coordination of injury prevention activities, (2) improve product control legislation, and (3) disseminate specific safety information to target groups and the general public.

Accident Prevention↗
PubMed1996

Information through television: does it promote child safety?

OBJECTIVES: First, to evaluate whether a local campaign to prevent childhood injuries increased parents' inclination to follow eight television programmes broadcast nationwide, and second, to assess whether parents reached by a local campaign benefitted more from the television programmes than those not reached by the campaign. METHODS: Before the television programmes were broadcast, all families with preschool children living in a typical Swedish municipality (the intervention area) received a letter from the head of the child health services encouraging them to watch the programmes. The local campaign also included face-to-face information and advice on childhood injuries at all day care centres and child health centres in the intervention area. After all the programmes had been broadcast, telephone interviews were conducted with one parent from 77% of all 1699 households with at least one preschool child in the intervention area, and with 87% of a random sample of 144 parents from other, similar municipalities. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The local campaign increased parents' inclination to follow the programmes. No significant association was found, however, between the number of programmes followed and measures undertaken in the homes as a direct consequence of the programmes. Nor was a significant association found between the number of programmes viewed and parents' attitudes towards risks. A local campaign may increase parents' awareness of information provided by the mass media on childhood injuries.

Accident Prevention↗
PubMed1979

Prevention of childhood accidents in Sweden. With special attention to the Work of the Joint Committee for Prevention of Accidents.

In the industrialized countries accidents constitute one of the greatest threats to children and Sweden was no exception to this. A joint committee was thus formed in 1954 to co-ordinate preventive work. Official bodies for health and education, safety organizations, some professional groups and voluntary organizations, were members of the Committee from the beginning. The Committee's role has been to stimulate investigations and research in safety, to work for a safer environment through planning and safety regulations and to provide information to parents and other key-groups. An important part of the preventive effort has been research, which has emphasized the seriousness of the problem and provided a basis for sefety work and subsequent information. Information has been channeled through the mass media as well as child welfare centres, schools and local groups which have become involved in safety matters. In order to make the environment safer the Swedish Board for Consumer Policy has a programme to test household equipment. The National Board of Urban Planning has drawn up regulations for the design of homes and their immediate surrounding. There seems to be a better understanding today of this important health problem. A tendency toward a lower number of fatal accidents can also be seen through the last few decades.

Accident Prevention↗