Research Article: Exploring the practices, challenges, and pathways for enhancement of grassroots social organizations in preventing child unintentional injuries: a qualitative study in Guizhou, China
Abstract:
Children’s unintentional injuries represent a global public health problem. Guizhou, as an economically underdeveloped province in southwest China, faces challenges in children’s unintentional injuries prevention and control, such as scarce resources and inadequate family supervision. Local social organizations play a crucial role in bridging the gap in government services. However, existing studies have predominantly focused on intervention models led by medical institutions or schools, lacking a systematic exploration of the practices and challenges of grassroots social organizations in this field.
This study aims to explore the practices of grassroots social organizations in Guizhou Province regarding the prevention and control of children’s unintentional injuries, identify the internal and external challenges they face, and subsequently propose pathways for enhancement. The goal is to provide an evidence base for optimizing the governance of children’s safety at the grassroots level.
This is a qualitative study. Using purposive sampling, semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted in July 2024 with 15 social workers and 7 school administrators from two cities and one county in Guizhou Province. Thematic analysis of interview data was conducted using NVivo 15.
Currently, as frontline implementers, social organizations have developed various localized intervention strategies, such as experiential education and peer-led advocacy. Through collaboration with schools and communities—for instance, by constructing “grid-based management” and “full-time guardianship” models for left-behind children—they have achieved notable effects in enhancing children’s safety awareness and reducing injury incidents. However, the sustainability of these practices faces severe challenges. Internal challenges include insufficient human resources and funding and an imperfect training system. External challenges include poor cross-sectoral collaboration, a mismatch between interventions and children’s developmental stages, and weak family supervision. Based on this, participants suggested enhancing prevention and control practice by increasing resource investment, strengthening government-led collaborative mechanisms, and applying innovative technologies.
Grassroots social organizations in Guizhou Province demonstrate localized innovative potential in the prevention and control of unintentional injury among children, but their effectiveness is constrained by systemic shortcomings. In the future, it is necessary to establish a multi-source resource support network, improve cross-sectoral collaboration mechanisms, and develop intervention strategies adapted to children’s cognitive characteristics.
Introduction:
Children’s unintentional injuries represent a global public health problem. Guizhou, as an economically underdeveloped province in southwest China, faces challenges in children’s unintentional injuries prevention and control, such as scarce resources and inadequate family supervision. Local social organizations play a crucial role in bridging the gap in government services. However, existing studies have predominantly focused on intervention models led by medical institutions or schools, lacking a systematic…
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