Association between community socioeconomic characteristics and access to youth flag football.
Access to Information
Adolescent
Athletic Injuries
/ epidemiology
Brain Concussion
/ epidemiology
Brain Injuries, Traumatic
/ epidemiology
Child
Female
Football
/ classification
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Health Status Disparities
Humans
Male
Socioeconomic Factors
United States
/ epidemiology
Youth Sports
/ classification
concussion
health disparities
public health
recreation / sports
socioeconomic status
sports / leisure facility
Journal
Injury prevention : journal of the International Society for Child and Adolescent Injury Prevention
ISSN: 1475-5785
Titre abrégé: Inj Prev
Pays: England
ID NLM: 9510056
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
08 2019
08 2019
Historique:
received:
24
11
2017
revised:
22
12
2017
accepted:
27
12
2017
pubmed:
14
1
2018
medline:
24
3
2020
entrez:
14
1
2018
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
The American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended that opportunities for non-tackling American football (e.g., flag football) be expanded, given concerns about the risks of brain trauma from tackle football. This study tested the hypothesis that flag football would be more accessible in communities characterised by higher socioeconomic status residents. In July 2017, the locations of community-based organisations offering youth flag and tackle football for youth between the ages of 6 and 13 in two US states (Georgia and Washington) were aggregated (n=440). Organisations were coded in terms of the availability of tackle and/or flag football teams for youth at each year of age between 6 and 13. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to assess the odds of a community-based football organisation offering flag football, by community socioeconomic and demographic characteristics. In both states, communities with more educated residents were more likely to offer flag football for youth aged 6-12. For example, among 6 year-olds every 10% increase in the number of adult residents with a college education was associated with 1.51 times the odds of flag football availability (95% CI 1.22 to 1.86, P<0.001). These results suggest that youth living in communities characterised by low educational attainment are less likely than other youth to have the option of a lower contact alternative to tackle football. Relying on voluntary community-level adoption of lower contact alternatives to tackle football may result in inequitable access to such sport options. This may contribute to an inequitable burden of brain trauma from youth sport.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
The American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended that opportunities for non-tackling American football (e.g., flag football) be expanded, given concerns about the risks of brain trauma from tackle football. This study tested the hypothesis that flag football would be more accessible in communities characterised by higher socioeconomic status residents.
METHODS
In July 2017, the locations of community-based organisations offering youth flag and tackle football for youth between the ages of 6 and 13 in two US states (Georgia and Washington) were aggregated (n=440). Organisations were coded in terms of the availability of tackle and/or flag football teams for youth at each year of age between 6 and 13. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to assess the odds of a community-based football organisation offering flag football, by community socioeconomic and demographic characteristics.
RESULTS
In both states, communities with more educated residents were more likely to offer flag football for youth aged 6-12. For example, among 6 year-olds every 10% increase in the number of adult residents with a college education was associated with 1.51 times the odds of flag football availability (95% CI 1.22 to 1.86, P<0.001).
CONCLUSION
These results suggest that youth living in communities characterised by low educational attainment are less likely than other youth to have the option of a lower contact alternative to tackle football. Relying on voluntary community-level adoption of lower contact alternatives to tackle football may result in inequitable access to such sport options. This may contribute to an inequitable burden of brain trauma from youth sport.
Identifiants
pubmed: 29330199
pii: injuryprev-2017-042677
doi: 10.1136/injuryprev-2017-042677
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
278-282Informations de copyright
© Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2019. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
Competing interests: None declared.