Table 1

Studies of community based programs to prevent poisoning in children aged 0–15 years

Study	Location/community/size/demographic	Time frame for intervention	Type of control	Type of intervention	Outcomes measures/method	Results
CI, confidence interval; OR, odds ratio; SES, socioeconomic scale; WHO, World Health Organization.
Studies designed with community controls
Guyer et al, 1989¹⁴	Nine cities in Massachussetts, USA. Total population: 139 810	September 1980-June 1982	Five control communities matched initially from 1970 census data on demographics: total population 146 866	Targeted education. Mass media education	Injuries in children aged 0–5 years requiring emergency department or hospital treatment or resulting in death. Injury cases recorded at 23 hospitals based on a surveillance system 1979–82	Crude incidence rates (per 10 000 per year) for poisoning: Intervention—before 31.76, after 36.14. Control—before 92.71, after 92.71
			NB: by 1980, control communities did actually differ demographically with higher proportions of poorer and Hispanic households. This led to higher baseline injuries. SES controlled for in analysis			SES adjusted odds ratio for poisoning in pre-intervention period versus post intervention for intervention community v control is 0.95 (95% CI 0.57 to 1.58)
Krug et al, 1994¹⁵	Gelukspan district, Western Transvaal, Bophuthatswana, South Africa. Population 94 000 (1985), assumed population growth of 3% annually	Baseline data collected (retrospectively) 1988–90 Intervention Nov 1991–Dec 1992	Lehurutshe district Population 72 000 assumed similar in demographics. Received health education messages	Targeted education. Changes to environment	Hospital and clinical records—child poisoning due to ingestion of paraffin	Incidence of paraffin ingestion declined by 47% in intervention area, remained constant in control area
Studies designed with the intervention community as an historical control
Maisel et al, 1967¹⁶	Charleston County, Southern Carolina, USA	1962–65	Historical control	Targeted education. Mass media education	Children under the age of 5 years hospitalized for acute accidental poisoning National clearinghouse for poison control centers	1960–61: 90 (baseline) 1962: 66, −27%, 1963: 69, −23%, 1964: 64, −29%
Lindqvist et al, 2002¹⁷	Motala, Ostergotland, Sweden	Program started in 1985. Pre-data collected 1983–84. Post-data collected 1989	Historical control results only reported for ingestions	Targeted education. Mass media education. Changes to environment. Behavioural strategies. WHO safe community approach	Ingestion injuries in children aged 0–15 years treated at health care units and local hospital. Comparing pre-intervention (1984–14) and post (1989) data. Odds ratios giving changes in injury rates after v before intervention	Aged 0–6 years: OR, 0.59 (95% CI 0.29 to 1.19) 7–12 years: OR, 0.16 (95% CI 0.02 to 1.32) 13–15 years: OR, 1.65 (95% CI 0.28 to 9.91) 0–15 years OR 0.60 (95% CI 0.33–1.10)