@article{ref1,
title="Social workers' determination of when children's access or potential access to loaded firearms constitutes child neglect",
journal="Injury epidemiology",
year="2019",
author="Jennissen, Charles A. and Evans, Erin M. and Karsjens, Alycia A. and Denning, Gerene M.",
volume="6",
number="Suppl 1",
pages="e29-e29",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Pediatric firearm-related deaths and injuries are a serious societal problem. Our study's objective was to determine social workers' assessment of child neglect with respect to access or potential access to a loaded firearm. <br><br>METHODS: Study invitations were delivered by e-mail to National Association of Social Workers members designating their practice as &quot;Child/Family Welfare&quot; (N = 4933) in October/November, 2015. Demographics, attitudes regarding child access prevention (CAP) laws, and the ages (4-14 years) at which social workers deemed several scenarios as child neglect were determined. Descriptive (frequencies) and bivariate (chi square) analyses were performed. <br><br>RESULTS: 485 of 4933 social workers completed the survey (9.8%). Of these, most agreed or strongly agreed (≥92%) there should be laws in place requiring firearms to be stored so unwanted access cannot be obtained by a child, even up to 15 years of age. In a scenario where a child had potential access to a loaded firearm, but never gained access, the presence of a CAP law pertinent to the child in the scenario increased the likelihood respondents would find the situation child neglect for all ages (p < 0.0001 for each age comparison). Moreover, 10.3% felt they could not deem the situation child neglect without the presence of a CAP law, no matter the age of the child. In a scenario where a child gained access to a loaded firearm, the vast majority found this to be child neglect (82-99%, with the percentage varying by the age of the child involved), regardless of the presence or absence of a CAP law and/or an injury being sustained. In addition, when a CAP law was in place, social workers were more likely to find neglect if the child had sustained a firearm-related injury as well (p values ranged from 0.016-0.0081 for age comparisons). <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: The vast majority of child/family welfare social workers surveyed found it to be child neglect when youth accessed or had potential access to a loaded, unsecured firearm. <br><br>RESULTS of the study provide support for the passage of universal CAP laws to help protect children equally across states and ensure the safe storage of firearms in homes.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="2197-1714",
doi="10.1186/s40621-019-0202-2",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s40621-019-0202-2"
}