Developing and Testing Interactive Agricultural Health and Safety Curricula for 4-H Youth
Youth living and working in agriculture are exposed to a hazardous occupational environment. More than 22,000 injuries to farm youth under age 20 were reported in 2001. Thirty-one percent of these injured youth were under age 10; 46% were ages 10-15; the highest rate of injury (15.7 per 100 youth) was to those youth who were part of a farm household (NASS, 2004). Healthy People 2010 identified the need for research based prevention efforts to reduce the burden of work-related injuries. Accordingly, the primary goal of this project is to reduce rates of injury and illness among youths who engage in farm chores and farm work.
Between 2003 and 2006, researchers at Colorado State University and its High Plains Intermountain Center for Agricultural Health and Safety successfully developed and formatively evaluated a prototype agricultural health and safety CD for 4-H youth in the area formerly known as Public Health Service Region VIII. The interactive CD (4-H CD1) targets youth in grades 3-6 and contains five teaching modules addressing safety issues related to tractors, chemical handling, animal handling, ATVs and grain handling. Each module includes 2-3 video clips, safety facts and an embedded quiz with immediate reinforcement identifying correct or incorrect answers.
Researchers are now working to evaluate the effectiveness of the 4-H CD1 in three additional regions of the United States: southeast (Kentucky), southwest (Texas, Arkansas) and northeast (New York). Using a quasi experimental randomized control design, the study will test for both knowledge and behavioral change among sample populations in each of these diverse agricultural production regions. Advisory panels consisting of parents, children & 4-H leaders will assist the researchers in assessing the appropriateness of 4-H CD1 for their region and in identifying topics for additional teaching modules (4-H CD2).
This four-year, multi-site project is supported by CDC/NIOSH Cooperative Agreement 2 U50 OH 008085-04A1 (Colorado State University) and sub-award G-4478-1 to the University of Kentucky, Southeast Center for Agricultural Health and Injury Prevention. Essential collaboration is being provided by the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service and state 4-H leaders. For more information contact Teresa A. Donovan, MPH, Southeast Center for Agricultural Health and Injury Prevention, University of Kentucky College of Public Health, Suite 102, 1141 Red Mile Road Lexington, KY 40504-9842 Phone: 859-323-6836.