A STUDY OF STORAGE, CHILD BEHAVIORAL TRAITS, AND MOTHER'S KNOWLEDGE OF TOXICOLOGY IN 52 POISONED FAMILIES AND 52 COMPARISON FAMILIES

Abstract

A study of 52 families with children under 6 years ingesting poison was conducted in a defined population of Albemarle County, Virginia. Fifty-two comparison families were randomly selected from neighbors of the poisoned families. The poisoned and comparison groups were the same in distribution among such categories as race, family size, mean age of poisoned and comparison children, sex, urban-mixed-rural residency, and socioeconomic class. By definition, the groups differed in that the comparison group had no histories of accidental poisonings in comparison children or their siblings. A statistically significant relationship was found between "pica" and "daredevilness" in children and poisoning accidents. There was no statistically significant difference in mother's knowledge of toxicity of medicines and household products, nor in the number and storage pattern of potentially toxic substances accessible to children who are 2½ years old and have average abilities. The study suggests that parental ignorance of toxicity, and carelessness in storage are merely secondary environmental factors which may be manipulated to decrease the ease and frequency with which the accident occurs. Emphasis upon child development and family attitude aspects would appear to deserve much higher priority in view of the existing evidence.