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Evaluation of community based intervention for the protection of children from small arms and explosive devices during the war: observational study.

AIM
To evaluate the influence of a community-based intervention aimed at reducing the risk of unintentional injuries caused by small arms and explosive devices accessible to children during the 1991-1995 war in Croatia.


METHOD
From May 5 to June 15 in 1994 and 1995, we performed a cross-sectional survey on exposure of the children in Croatia to different small arms and explosive devices, using specially prepared questionnaires. The survey was conducted in Dubrovnik-Neretva and Karlovac counties, where community-based intervention was carried out, and Lika-Senj and Sisak-Moslavina counties, where only national intervention was implemented. The sample included a total of 5,317 parents and 2,581 children. The response rate was 98%. All participants were asked to give answers according to current situation.


RESULTS
Approximately a third of children in the counties without community-based intervention and a fifth in the counties with community-based intervention could access small arms and explosive devices at home. Boys were more exposed than girls (p=0.001). In the communities with community-based intervention, children were less exposed to the devices, such as small-arms, hand grenades, and explosives, which were the main cause of injuries. In 1994, parents in counties without community-based intervention handled weapons in front of their children in 45% cases vs 31% of those in the counties with community-based intervention (p<0.001). In 1995, the percentages were 44 and 32, respectively (p<0.001).


CONCLUSION
Although it is impossible to quantify the exact amount of risk reduction due to health intervention alone, community-based intervention reduced the exposure of children to weapons.