Relation of caregiver alcohol use to unintentional childhood injury.

OBJECTIVE The present study used a case-crossover design to investigate the association of caregiver alcohol consumption and supervision to children's injury occurrence and severity. METHOD A community sample of 170 mothers of toddlers was interviewed biweekly about their children's daily injuries for a period of 6 months. RESULTS Proximal caregiver-reported alcohol use predicted higher likelihood of injury occurrence and higher injury severity, whereas caregiver-reported supervision predicted lower likelihood of injury occurrence and lower injury severity. CONCLUSION Even at low levels, proximal caregiver alcohol use may contribute to higher risk for childhood injuries and more severe injuries. The combined effect of supervision and drinking on injury likelihood warrants further exploration.