Disability and home hazards and safety practices in US households.

BACKGROUND: Individuals with disabilities have an elevated risk of residential injury. However, the prevalence of home hazards and safety practices among households where an individual with a disability resides is unknown. METHODS: This study examined patterns of home hazards and safety practices among 1003 households across the United States in 2002. RESULTS: Households with at least 1 resident with a disability had a lower prevalence of household hazards than those without a resident with a disability, including living in a 2-story dwelling (34.6% vs 50.7%) and having stairs inside the home (48.1% vs 58.4%). They were more likely to implement fall prevention strategies, such as handrails or grab bars in the bathroom (40.4% vs 21.8%) and mats or nonskid strips in the tub or shower (71.7% vs 61.5%). CONCLUSION: There is room for improvement in safety practices among households where an individual with a disability resides.