Citation

Schwebel DC, Lewis T, Simon TR, Elliott MN, Toomey SL, Tortolero SR, Cuccaro PM, Schuster MA. Health Educ. Behav. 2014; 41(3): 299-306.

Affiliation

1University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1090198113512126

PMID

24419969

Abstract

Firearms in the home are associated with increased injury risk, especially when loaded and unlocked. In this study, 5,010 fifth-graders and their caregivers in three U.S. metropolitan areas participated in the 2004-2006 Healthy Passages study on adolescent health. Firearm ownership and storage patterns were examined by four self-reported sociodemographic characteristics (child's race/ethnicity, child's gender, family socioeconomic status, and study site) and reasons for ownership. Eighteen percent (n = 880) of the families reported firearms in the home. Families with African American and Hispanic children had lower odds of owning firearms than families with non-Hispanic White children. The most common reasons for ownership were protection from crime and hunting. Six percent (n = 56) of the families with firearms stored at least one firearm unlocked, assembled, without a trigger lock, and with unlocked ammunition. Compared with families with non-Hispanic White children, families with African American children engaged in safer storage practices. Results can inform childhood firearm injury prevention activities.

Language: en