Citation

Kopjar B, Wiik J, Wickizer TM, Bulajic-Kopjar B, Mujki-Klaric A. Am. J. Public Health 1996; 86(3): 397-400.

Affiliation

National Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1996, American Public Health Association)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

8604767

PMCID

PMC1380523

Abstract

To investigate the exposure of children in Croatia to war weapons, we surveyed random samples of children (n=986) aged 11 to 16 years and of parents (1,469) of children aged 7 to 16 years in April 1994 in four war-affected districts in Croatia. The children's survey indicated that 57% of the boys and 36% of the girls had access to weapons at home, at some other place, or at both. Eighteen percent of the boys and 5% of the girls reported playing with weapons. The parents' survey showed that 68% of the households possessed weapons, with 19% of the children having access to weapons at home. Influenced by preliminary findings of these surveys, the Croatian government modified its national campaign (one partially supported by international aid) to prevent war-related injuries among children. This study demonstrates the feasibility of scientific evaluation of humanitarian aid programs.