RHP&EO is the electronic journal of the International Union for Health Promotion and Education

Injury Prevention In Local Context

Bjom Hauger, sociologist

HE-ncer, Dept of Health Sciences, Vestfold College, box 2243, 3103 Tonsberg, Norway

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Vestfold has over the last years been the county most active on injury prevention work directed towards children. The first project run 1982-89. The Regional medical officer (Fylkeslegen) tried to initiate multisector-teams in each of the 15 municipalities in the county to take responsibility. Only 9 groups were formed, and only 1 actually functioned. But during the project period information on injury risks for children were systematically given to all parents visiting the public health nurse at the health centre. This was evaluated in 92, but showed little effect on parent ability to protect children against accidents all though the general attitude towards the information were very positive.

Our hypothesis is that a broader understanding of everyday life and local environment is needed to make preventive work more effective. A new projected started in 95 in Vestfold focusing on the schoolsituation. One of the aims is to generate knowledge about how accidents are experienced as a part of children's daily life, and how preventive work can fit into the lives of the children, their parents and teachers in a more meaningful way.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We have a database of all accidents in schools in Vestfold in 1994 reported to the Social Security Office (Trygdekontoret). Lindhoy primary school in Tjome serves as special case study. Here reports have been filed for 10 years, children experiencing accidents have been interviewed and standard 1 and 2 (7-8 years old) have made drawings.

We will use a action reseach approach to work with children, teachers and parents at Lindhoy primary school.

PERSPECTIVE

Accidents are more than injuries. It generates good attention, comfort and support from the child's surroundings. But less so in the school. On the contrary children report to have been teased, others just neglected. Emotional wounds may be more hurting than the physical.

To prevent accidents should therefor be linked to creating a prosperous development in the school. Both teachers and parents favour this approach. That integrates the accident prevention with the other activities at the school. At Lindhoy the pupils in St. 1 gets older pupils as sponsors. Pupils from st.5 form a 'safety patrol'. The school also participates in a nation-wide project against bugging. These are all activities the school want to link to accident prevention.

DISCUSSION

Our view is that so far to much emphasis has been given to general, preventive activities. To motivate the actors, activities must be a meaningful part of their daily life.

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