Developing and Testing Interactive Agricultural Health and Safety Curricula for 4-H Youth
The rate of injuries among children who live on, visit, or are hired to work in production agriculture was 6.8 per 1,000 farms in 2009, according to a survey conducted by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Although this marks a significant reduction from the 16.6 injuries per 1,000 farms reported in 1998, more than 15,011 youth injuries were reported on U.S. farms in 2009 (MCRF, 2010). Youth who live or work on farms experience higher relative injury rates associated with riding all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and horses, and youth who live on livestock operations historically have incurred a higher rate of injury than their counterparts in crop operations.
To address the problem of childhood agricultural injuries, from 2003 through 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 safety and health CD for 4-H youth in Colorado, Montana, and South Dakota. The interactive CD (4-H CD1) targets youth in grades 3-6. The CD contains five teaching modules addressing tractor safety, chemical handling, animal handling, ATVs and grain handling. Each module includes 2 or 3 video clips, safety facts, and an embedded quiz with immediate reinforcement or feedback regarding correct or incorrect answers.
Since 2007 researchers have evaluated the effectiveness of 4-H CD1 in three additional regions of the United States: the Southeast (Kentucky), Southwest (Texas, Arkansas) and Northeast (New York). Using a quasi experimental randomized control design, the study has tested for both knowledge and behavioral change among sample populations in each of these diverse agricultural production regions. Advisory panels consisting of parents, children and 4-H leaders have assisted the researchers in assessing the appropriateness of 4-H CD1 for their region and in identifying topics for additional teaching modules (4-H CD2). The second, improved CD is being developed and tested in 2011.
This 4-year, multi-site project is supported by CDC/NIOSH Cooperative Agreement 2 U50 OH 008085-04A1 (Colorado State University) and sub-award G-46241-1 to the University of Kentucky, Southeast Center for Agricultural Health and Injury Prevention. Essential collaboration has been provided by 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 1A, 342 Waller Avenue, Lexington, KY 40504-9842. Phone: 859-323-6836.
Reference:
National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety. Childhood agricultural injury rates continue to decline. Press release 2010 Sept 16. Accessed online at http://www.marshfieldclinic.org/patients/?page=newsreleases&id=4311 [2011 Apr 5].