International Safe Community Research Articles

In memoriam: Leif Svanström (1943–2023)

Leif Svanström, born in Västervik, Sweden, on 30 October 1943, was a big man in physical and intellectual stature, persona and impact. Leif trained at Lund University, obtaining a BA...

Analysis of the effect of a community based injury prevention program using synthetic control method

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to examine how residents’ injury mortality varies depending on the implementation of a community-based injury prevention program with an international safe community model and to analyze the program’s effectiveness. Methods: The study analyzed descriptive statistics and annual variation to understand the targeted regions’ characteristics and applied the synthetic control method (SCM) to determine whether significant changes occurred before and after the region’s designation as International Safe Community. Results: The age-adjusted injury death rate by years and regions fluctuated but often tended to increase for intentional injury, whereas it continually decreased for unintentional injury. Additionally, although the mortality in designated regions tended to be similar to that of the control group before the designation as International Safe Community, the mortality in the former was substantially lower than after the designation. Conclusion: At the community level, It is necessary to continuously plan a project including comprehensive strategies for injury prevention, which match regional characteristics, and to promote a targeted and customized program based on injury mechanisms.

Safe Accidents Risk Assessment of Busan Metropolitan: Comparison the Evaluation of Citizens and Experts

Various accidents, including the 2014 Sewol ferry disaster, and the recent COVID-19 pandemic served as an opportunity to remind our society that we need to respond more actively to safety. The World Health Organization (WHO) promotes community-based injury prevention through the International Safe Community model. The Safe Community approach is a cost-effective and successful way to promote community safety. Busan Metropolitan City started the International Safe Community Program in 2009 to reflect the vulnerabilities and needs of citizens and realize scientific evidence-based stable administration. The purpose of this study is to comprehensively evaluate Busan s international safe community projects over the past 10 years, and to suggest future safety policies and business directions for Busan. We surveyed and compared the safety perceptions, perceptions, international safe community projects and demands for correction targeting Busan citizens and safety experts. It is necessary to reflect the research results in deriving future projects. Based on the findings of the study, it was possible to identify seven suggestions.

Achievements of the International Safe Community Movement in Busan Metropolitan, Republic of Korea

Community-based injury prevention under the International Safe Community model is a cost-effective and successful way to reduce injury and increase safety in communities. Safe community programs are important factors influencing overall health and major public health issues around the world. The purpose of this study is to describe and evaluate outcomes and achievements of the Busan Metropolitan International Safe Community program. For this study, we analyzed all data from 13 administrative agencies from 2009 to 2018 and compared each year of injury statistics with injury indicators including core indicator, supplementary indicators, and optional indicators as central data in order to identify outcomes of the Busan Metropolitan Safe Community program. We also evaluated effectiveness of programs through a statistical testing. The Sustainable Busan Metropolitan City Safety Community Program will contribute to realizing the government's goals for the Busan Metropolitan Safety policies and improving the quality of life for Busan citizens. We ultimately plan to contribute to an establishment of the safety culture targeting the whole citizens of all ages, genders, and social classes.

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the WHO General Program of Work 2019-2023 and International Safe Communities

Background: A number of international safe communities are displaying increasing interest in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG). The International Safe Communities Certifying Centre is seeking to establish formal relations with the World Health Organization (WHO). Purpose: A formal review of the UNSDG and WHO General Program of Work 13 – 2019 to 2023 (WHO GPW13) alignment with the international Safe Communities indicators. Methods: UNSDGs were formally reviewed by 4 senior ISCCC certifiers and ranked in terms alignment with International Safe Communities Indicators. Results: While injury imposes a considerable cost burden on communities, safety is a critical precondition necessary for the attainment of the productive physical, physical and social environments that communities require to achieve their full potential. Safety provides a dynamic leverage point for communities to achieve their aspiration for sustainable development. There is very strong alignment between the UNSDGs and the International Safe Community Indicators The holistic understanding of injury prevention and safety promotion adopted by the safe communities movement supports the WHO vision to “Promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable” articulated in its 13th General Program of Work (GPW): 2019 to 2023. Based on the analysis the ISCCC board has identified 7 domains of injury prevention and safety promotion practice that are of high strategic importance8: • Disaster preparedness • Prevention of Road Traffic Injuries • Prevention of Violence against Women • Prevention Violence against Children • Suicide prevention • Falls prevention • Prevention of workplace injury. All new designation applications submitted after the 1st of July 2019 must provide statistical information regarding the incidence of these issues and to describe how they are addressed in their community. Conclusion: The International Safe Community movement embraces a whole of system (ecological) definition of injury prevention and safety promotion that aligns easily with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG) and the WHO General Program of Work 13, 2019 to 2023 (WHO GPW13).

Determinants of child safety seat use among parents in an International Safe Community, Tehran, Iran

Objective: Road traffic accidents are a global issue and serious threat for public health. Children are at high risk of serious injury or death from motor vehicle crashes. Child safety seats (CSSs) can reduce the risk of death and serious injury in children. This study was done to determine the prevalence of child safety seat use in vehicles and the factors influencing their use in a safe society (Tehran, Iran) in 2015.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 804 parents with children under 12 years old who owned private cars were questioned in different areas of Tehran. A questionnaire included demographic data, and 2 specific questionnaires were used for families that used a CSS and those did not use a CSS. Univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression analyses were conducted. Crude and adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. All analyses were carried out using SPSS 21.Results: The prevalence of child safety seat use was 18.7% and was significantly higher among parents with an income greater than 50 million rials/month, parents who received child safety seat recommendations, parents living in the north of Tehran, and fathers with more driving experience. Age, weight, and height of children were also factors that influenced the use of child safety seats. The most common reasons for parents to use child safety seats was awareness about the benefits of this device and fear of harm to the child, and the most common reasons for nonuse were child intolerance while sitting in the seat and cost.Conclusion: The prevalence of child safety seat use in Tehran is very low, and most parents are not aware of the importance of child safety seats. Comprehensive programs, including legislation, law enforcement, public education, and publicity to promote the benefits of using CSSs, in Tehran can be an effective step toward increasing the use of child safety devices.

An Analysis of Influence Factors on Performance of International Safe Community Projects - Focusing on Gwangju Metropolitan City -

The current study aims to examine the process and effectiveness of a safe community project using the case of international safe community project in Gwangju. To achieve this goal, the relationships between implementation and outcome factors were analyzed. Based on the previous literature, factors influencing implementation include community and safety governance (i.e., collaboration, governmental attention, civil attention), local capacity, injury surveillance system (i.e., cognition. efficacy, decision making support), organizational culture and leadership, and social capital (i.e., bridge and connection, reciprocity and trust), while outcome factors include satisfaction with the project, knowledge and attitude change, and expected future changes. It is found that governmental attention to community safety governance and reciprocity and trust in social capital were positively related to program satisfaction, knowledge and attitude change, and expected future changes. Moreover, governmental and civil attention to community safety governance, unity and connection in social capital were positively related to knowledge and attitude change and expected future changes.

30-year Analysis of Designated International Safe Communities

Background: The International Safe Communities movement was established in 1986, and since that time has developed into an international collaborative network comprised of the WHO CCCSP/ ISCCC, regional and national safe community organizations, support centers and communities. Purpose to review the outcomes of communities who have achieved designation as an international safe community over the 32-year period from 1986 to 2018. Methods: An audit of the ISCCC database and website was undertaken. Any inconsistencies were checked for accuracy against the original designation application. Results: Since the safe community movement began in 1998 four hundred and three International Safe Communities have been designated. Data was available for analysis regarding 361 communities. Thirty-eight communities, all designated prior to 2006, had been removed from the data base prior to this data being handed over to the ISCCC. The data set is complete from 2006 onwards. The program has a high reach, 86 million people have been served by a safe community program that has achieved International Safe Community Designation on at least one occasion (1.1% of the world population). Forty-nine millions of these are served by safe community programs whose certification remains active. In 2018 there were 39 certifications (13 designations and 26 redesignations), covering a population of 7.1 million people. One hundred and sixty-one (40%) of the original 403 communities have maintained a safe community certification. Two hundred and forty-four (68%) communities only sought initial designation, 92 (25%) were designated twice, 22 (6%) were designated three times and 3 (1%) were designated four times. International Safe Communities vary considerably in size from the smallest with a population of 1,000 inhabitants to the largest of 12 million. However, the distribution is skewed towards smaller communities (5th percentile = 6,000, a median of 90,000, a mean of 240,000 and a 95th percentile of 700,000. Conclusion: The International Safe Community movement has accomplished remarkable growth in the 30 years since it began in Sweden in the late 1980s. The program has achieved high reach. Four hundred and three communities have been designated by the end of 2018 with a population footprint of 86 million people.

Using Public Health Approach to make our programme logic

Among the seven indicators in international safe community, it is one of the core elements to solve the injury problem in the community in a project-based manner. The main purpose of the International Safe Community Certification Center promoting model projects and excellent projects to the world, is to provide good example and reference for the community. How to identify the main risk in the community? How to take appropriate intervention measures according to the specific conditions of the community? How to maximize the effectiveness of the project and effectively solve the major injury problems of the community? How to evaluate the programme? Those are the challenges many communities are facing. Fortunately the public health approach which includes four steps provides the best tool for communities to implement effective injury prevention programs. (1) Surveillance – the community need to know and understand the problems in their community. Through surveillance it is possible to determine the magnitude and characteristics of the problem, and can include factors such as when, where, to whom and how the injury happened. (2) Risk factor identification –the community need to know and understand the causes of the problems. Through risk factor identification it is possible to determine which factors increase the risk of injury or disability and which factors are potentially modifiable. (3) Develop and evaluate interventions –the community need to know and understand what works? By this step the community can develop intervention with set measures to assess if the injury problem was addressed with using information gained from risk factor identification to develop and pilot-test or evaluate interventions. (4) Implementation –the community need to know and understand how it is done. This last step aims to implement the most promising interventions on a broader scale. The lack of logic in injury prevention programs is one of the most common problems during the safe community certifying process. There are often inconsistencies between the project's background, the interventions adopted, and the assessment indicators. The application of public health approach can effectively help the community. Of course, communities can collaborate with professional institutions or universities, to work with public health professionals, which is one of the effective ways to improve the quality of community injury prevention programs.

European Safe Community Network

More than 5 million people die each year as a result of: injuries, resulting from acts of violence against oneself or others, road traffic crashes, burns, drowning, falls, poisonings, among other causes. That is the reason for Safe Community program in every part of the world. Because Safe Communities are an Essential need for a Modern-Day Society. Safe Community is our present and future. Safe Community does not know the state boundaries, nationality, religion, skin color, age and gender. Safe Community is a global program and global movement for the preservation and protection of the environment, life and health of every inhabitant of this planet. Safe Community is a safe environment in which people can develop all their work and productive potentials. European safe Community Network aims at strengthening existing International Safe Communities in Europe and promotion of the formation of new communities to be accepted into the Safe community movement. The Global Burden of Disease Studies has documented unfair distribution of injury by socioeconomic strata in Europe. This gradient, existing within and between countries, must be addressed. Our board has representatives from Novi Sad in South Eastern Europe through the Baltics and as far north in Scandinavia as 200 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle in Norway. Together we are working against public indifference towards the burden of injury and trying to promote community based interventions against injuries e.g. traffic accidents , drowning, burns, falls, violence, and suicide. In the 53 countries of the WHO European Region injuries are estimated to cause 790 000 deaths yearly. This is 9% of deaths from all causes. An estimate for the 27 countries in the European Union is 252 000 injury related deaths and about 7 million hospital admissions yearly (8% of all admissions). Injury is the greatest thief of life years in the age group from one year to the mid-forties. The first Safe Community was designated in 1989. Several Swedish and Norwegian communities followed in Falkopings, footsteps during the next two decades. There are 58 designated Safe Communities in Europe. Of these 36 are in Sweden and Norway. Norway has a strong National Safe Community Network, Norwegian Safety Forum and are steadily recruiting communities up to the present. Sweden he s recruited few new safe communities the last two decades, probably due to the dissolving of the Swedish National Network. However, existing Swedish Safe Communities are active and strong and thus redesigned. Key success on participation in National and International Safe Communities Networks are: Statistics, Research, Strategy, Motivation, Education, Training and Collaboration.

Effects of Community Based Fall Prevention Program for Elderly People in Busan Metropolitan City, Korea

Background: Fall related fractures in elderly are one of the most serious health problems in the world. Due to the rapid aging of the elderly in Korea, elderly falls has emerged as a very important social health issue. Falls can result in injuries, a loss of confidence and a subsequent reduction in physical activity and community participant. This work was conducted by the Busan Metropolitan International Safe Community Program in 2018. Purposes The purposes of this study were to develop a community-based fall prevention program and to test the effects of the program on the postural balance and fall efficacy for elderly people. Methods: 36 elderly were recruited from the community in Dong-gu district of Busan Metropolitan City. The program consisted of balance exercises, elastic resistance exercises and prevention education. Postural balance and fall efficacy were evaluated before and at the end of the intervention, using the Functional Reach Test (FRT), Timed Up & Go test (TUG) and the fall efficacy scale-K. The intervention was performed for twice a week in the senior center for 12 weeks. Data were analyzed using paired t-test using the SPSS program. Results: Developed program was based predominantly on the social cognitive model of behavioral change to successfully increased activities participation in elderly. This program is very useful because it not only focuses on exercise, but participants also learn fall prevention strategies. There were significantly improved in postural balance (FRT; p<.001, TUG; p=0.02) and fall efficacy (p<.001). Conclusion: This study suggests that this program can improve postural balance and fall efficacy in elders. Therefore, this program is recommended for use in fall prevention programs for elders living in the community.

스마트시티의 주민참여형 안전도시 계획을 위한 빅데이터 활용에 관한 고찰

기존의 도시계획은 내부 소수의 의사결정자들에 의해 이루어졌으나 스마트시티에서는 ICT 기술 진화를 통해 개인이 접할 수 있는 정보가 많아지고 채널이 다양화 되면서 다양한 방식으로 의사결정과정에 참여할 수 있게 되었다. 이에 본 연구에서는 스마트시티의 안전도시 계획 과정을 주민과 직간접으로 소통하는 협력적인 계획과정으로써 데이터 활용 방안을 제시하고자 한다. 이를 위해 WHO 국제안전도시 인증을 받은 일본의 마츠바라시(松原市)의 데이터의 내용과 활용을 국내와 비교하여 국제안전 도시의 승인을 준비하는 지역에서 주민참여 방안의 보조적 역할로 데이터의 활용성을 높이고자 한다. The existing city planning was performed by internal few decision-maker, but the information that an individual could contact with through the evolution of the ICT technology increased in the smart city, and a channel diversified and came to be able to participate in a decision making process by various methods. I show that it is in the collaborative planning process to come to a mutual understanding with residents directly or indirectly if utilize big data in a process of the safe community planning of the smart city. Therefore, I compare the utilization contents between data of Matsubara-shi,Japan and data of certification city of Korea which received the certification of the WHO international safe community. In the area where this study prepares for the approval of the international safe community, it wants you to use it though you utilize the data as the supporting role of the residents participation plan.

An observational study of child safety seat use in an international safe community: Tehran, Iran

ABSTRACTObjective: Despite strong evidence of the effectiveness of child safety seats in reducing injuries, the use of these devices in some communities is still rare. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of child safety seat use and the factors influencing its use in the safe community of Tehran.Methods: This roadside observational study was conducted in 2015 and 2,178 personal cars with a child under 12 years aboard were observed on Tehran's streets in regard to use of child safety seats. Other variables such as the gender of the driver, driver's age group, type of street, region of municipality, time of day, and day of the week were also collected.Results: Prevalence of child safety seat use was 4.3% and was significantly higher among women drivers, on freeways, and in municipal regions 1, 4, and 7.Conclusions: The prevalence of child safety seat use in Tehran as a most populous member of the international safe community was very low and most children commuted in insecure situations in the vehicle. Therefore, it is proposed that plans should be made to increase the use of child safety seats in international safe communities.

An observational study of secondary task engagement while driving on urban streets in Iranian Safe Communities

In Iran the prevalence of traffic injuries and death from vehicle collisions are high. Driver engagement in non-driving-related tasks has been previously identified as an important contributing factor to crashes. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of drivers’ engagement in potentially distracting activities in Kashmar, Khalilabad and Bardaskan, which are three Iranian International Safe Communities. Observations took place at 12 randomly selected roadside locations in each city, which were comprised of six main streets and six side streets. In total 7979 drivers were observed. The prevalence rates of potentially distracting activities in Kashmar, Khalilabad and Bardaskan were 24.3%, 26% and 24.9%, respectively. In both Kashmar and Khalilabad the most frequently observed secondary tasks were drivers talking to passengers (10.6% and 11.5%, respectively) followed by mobile phone use (3.4% and 4.0%, respectively). Although in Bardaskan the most commonly observed secondary task was also talking to passengers (12.7%), the second most common was reaching for an object (3.2%). In all three cities younger drivers were significantly more likely to be observed engaged in a secondary task while driving. Furthermore, involvement in secondary tasks while driving was significantly higher amongst females and those driving on a working day. The percentage of drivers identified as potentially distracted in these three Safe Communities was worryingly high. Thus, interventions should be integrated into the WHO Safe Community network in these cities, including: education regarding the risks associated with engaging in secondary activities while driving, law enforcement, tougher legislation, periodic assessment, raising public awareness, as well as attracting political and social support.

Seat belt use among car drivers in Iranian safe communities: An observational study

ABSTRACTObjective: The number of road traffic injuries and fatalities in Iran is high. The aim of the present study was to investigate the rate of drivers' seat belt use and a number of related factors in Kashmar, Bardaskan, and Khalilabad (Iranian Safe Communities).Methods: In 2014, driver observations were made at 48 road sites on intercity roads, main streets, side streets, and rural roads in these 3 cities.Results: A total of 10,255 vehicles were observed, with the overall rate of seat belt use being 51.8%. The rates in Kashmar, Bardaskan, and Khalilabad were 51.4, 56.3, and 47.7%, respectively. In Kashmar, the odds of seat belt use were higher among drivers who were female, older, and taxi drivers. Higher use was also found during the afternoon, and lower use was observed on rural roads. In Khalilabad the odds of seat belt use were higher among females, older drivers, taxis, and private car drivers. Seat belt use was also higher on weekends and during the morning but was significantly lower on rural roads. Similarly, in Bardaskan the odds of using a seat belt were higher among females, older drivers, taxis, and private car drivers. Seat belt use was also higher during the afternoon but was significantly lower on rural roads, in comparison to main streets and intercity roads.Conclusions: The rate of seat belt use in these 3 cities was found to be low, despite these cities being designated as International Safe Communities. Therefore, seat belt promotion programs, tougher regulations, stronger enforcement, public awareness campaigns, and more research are needed to promote seat belt use in these Iranian cities.

Application and Developmental Strategies for Community-Based Injury Prevention Programs of the International Safe Communities Movement in Korea.

Safety of humans is an important factor that affects health overall, and injuries are one of the major public-health problems in the world. The purposes of this study were to describe the International safe Community movement which contributes to the injury prevention and safety promotion all over the world, and to identify out the application and developmental strategies for Korea. A review was done of previous research, reviews, and reports on the history, concepts, basic principles, and recommendations for actions of the Safe Community. For this study, the application strategies of the International Safe Community movement in Korea were examined to deduce the strengths of the safe Community program. Community-based injury prevention work according to the International Safe Community model is a successful and cost-effective way of reducing injuries in the community. Through the International Safe Community program, communities are able to realize a healthy community and achieve improved quality of lives for the people, which is the ultimate objective of the Safe Community model. In addition, it will contribute to the economic vitalization and gain through energy and enhancement of productivity of people.

Effect of Urbanization on Child Safety

Background: The world’s population living in urban areas has grown up from 14% to over 50%. This study was designed aiming to compare injuries related mortality and morbidity in Urban vs Rural settings among children in Iran. Methods: Data were gathered from a household survey. A t-test was used to analyze the relationship between outcomes. Achievements: Injury in all ages accounts for 17% of all deaths in Iran. 20% of death in children is due to injuries. Children in urban settings sustain injuries due to traffic accident, airway blockage and fall from height more than rural children. About 63.5% of morbidity related to injuries occurs in private homes or in residential areas e.g. yards and compounds. In these injuries, no significant statistically difference was found between rural vs. urban setting (p ≤ 0.05). Conclusion: Beside area level measures as an index for considering urbanization, other elements including quality of roads, distances from markets and so on should be considered as well. Safety for children is an important element to be provided prior to planning cities by urban developers. Expansion of the International Safe Community program is a potential solution.

Examining quality function deployment in safety promotion in Sweden

The first-hand needs and demands of laypersons are not always considered when safety promotion programmes are being developed. We compared focal areas for interventions identified from residents' statements of safety needs with focal areas for interventions identified by local government professionals in a Swedish urban community certified by the international Safe Community movement supported by the World Health Organization. Quantitative and qualitative data on self-expressed safety needs from 787 housing residents were transformed into an intervention design, using the quality function deployment (QFD) technique and compared with the safety intervention programme developed by professionals at the municipality administrative office. The outcome of the comparison was investigated with regard to implications for the Safe Community movement. The QFD analysis identified the initiation and maintenance of social integrative processes in housing areas as the most highly prioritized interventions among the residents, but failed to highlight the safety needs of several vulnerable groups (the elderly, infants and persons with disabilities). The intervention programme designed by the public health professionals did not address the social integrative processes, but it did highlight the vulnerable groups. This study indicates that the QFD technique is suitable for providing residential safety promotion efforts with a quality orientation from the layperson's perspective. Views of public health professionals have to be included to ascertain that the needs of socially deprived residents are adequately taken into account. QFD can augment the methodological toolbox for safety promotion programmes, including interventions in residential areas.

REDUCING ALCOHOL RELATED HARM IN WELLINGTON

BackgroundWellington City is regarded as the entertainment hub for the Wellington Region and has over 300 licensed premises in the entertainment precinct of the city. Alcohol related harm reduction has...

BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE SAFE COMMUNITIES NETWORK: THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE

BackgroundOver the 20+ years of the International Safe Communities movement, the model did not gain traction in the USA until the National Safety Council (NSC) spearheaded the development of Safe...