Falls among children in the developing world: a gap in child health burden estimations?

Traumatic head injuries in children: demographics, injury patterns, and outcomes in Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND

Traumatic head injuries (THIs) are among the leading cause of mortality and intensive care unit (ICU) admission in children worldwide. Most of the published literature concerning THIs arises predominantly from North America and Europe. However, only limited data about the incidence, characteristics and impact on children in Saudi Arabia exists.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective analysis of THIs in children (≤ 18 years of age) using data from the Saudi TraumA Registry (STAR) from August 2017 to December 2022. Data included patient demographic characteristics, the mechanism, type and severity of injury. We used multivariable logistic regression to assess the association between outcomes and clinical factors.

RESULTS

We identified 466 children with THI. Most children were over six years of age (69.5%) and male (76.6%). Motor vehicle crashes (MVCs) were the most common cause of THIs (51.9%), with falls being more common in infants (69.8%). Over half of the children required ICU admission. Children with higher injury severity score, heart rate at presentation to the ED, hospital stay duration, respiratory assistance and need for surgery were more likely to require ICU admission. The overall mortality rate was 7.7%, with schoolchildren (age: 6-12 years) having the highest mortality rate (10.8%). Higher rates of ICU admission were associated with increases in the injury severity score (ISS), hospital stay duration, respiratory assistance and the need for surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Children in the 6-12 year age-group had the highest mortality rate, reflecting high injury severities associated with increased ICU admissions. These findings highlight the importance of targeting preventive measures for MVCs in older children and improving trauma care for severe cases.

CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER

Not applicable.

Epidemiology and Pattern of Orthopedic Trauma in Children and Adolescents: Implications for Injury Prevention

BACKGROUND

Orthopedic injuries are prevalent in children and can result in hospitalization and damage. The number of accidental injuries among children increases every year, leading to a huge burden on communities and health institutions.

AIM

This study aimed to assess the epidemiological pattern of orthopedic trauma among children and adolescents in Abha, Saudi Arabia.

METHODS

A retrospective record-based study was carried out to investigate the epidemiological pattern of orthopedic trauma among children and adolescents treated at Abha Maternity and Children Hospital in Saudi Arabia, a traumatic center for pediatric patients. The study covered all children and adolescents treated at the hospital for orthopedic trauma. The parents of the children and adolescents were called to get their consent to participate in the study. The following data were extracted from the medical files: personal information, medical history, trauma-related details, management, hospitalization, and complications.

RESULTS

A total of 295 children and adolescents were included. The mean ± standard deviation age was 6.8 ± 3.1 years old (range 1 month to 13 years). Of the patients, 186 (63.1%) were male. The most reported causes of traumas were fall from height (48.1%) and injury while playing (19.7%). The most affected body parts included the forearm (22.4%), head (21.7%), thigh (20%), and leg (10.8%). The vast majority of the children and adolescents (87.1%) had no complications.

CONCLUSION

The current study revealed that pediatric orthopedic injuries are not rare, and there is a higher likelihood of injuries among young male children. Fall from height and play-associated injuries are the most frequent causes.

Disparities in Access to Trauma Care in Sub-Saharan Africa: a Narrative Review

Purpose of Review

Sub-Saharan Africa is a diverse context with a large burden of injury and trauma-related deaths. Relative to high-income contexts, most of the region is less mature in prehospital and facility-based trauma care, education and training, and trauma care quality assurance. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development recognizes rising inequalities, both within and between countries as a deterrent to growth and development. While disparities in access to trauma care between the region and HICs are more commonly described, internal disparities are equally concerning. We performed a narrative review of internal disparities in trauma care access using a previously described conceptual model.

Recent Findings

A broad PubMed and EMBASE search from 2010 to 2021 restricted to 48 sub-Saharan African countries was performed. Records focused on disparities in access to trauma care were identified and mapped to de Jager’s four component framework. Search findings, input from contextual experts, comparisons based on other related research, and disaggregation of data helped inform the narrative. Only 21 studies were identified by formal search, with most focused on urban versus rural disparities in geographical access to trauma care. An additional 6 records were identified through citation searches and experts. Disparity in access to trauma care providers, detection of indications for trauma surgery, progression to trauma surgery, and quality care provision were thematically analyzed. No specific data on disparities in access to injury care for all four domains was available for more than half of the countries. From available data, socioeconomic status, geographical location, insurance, gender, and age were recognized disparity domains. South Africa has the most mature trauma systems. Across the region, high quality trauma care access is skewed towards the urban, insured, higher socioeconomic class adult. District hospitals are more poorly equipped and manned, and dedicated trauma centers, blood banks, and intensive care facilities are largely located within cities and in southern Africa. The largest geographical gaps in trauma care are presumably in central Africa, francophone West Africa, and conflict regions of East Africa. Disparities in trauma training opportunities, public–private disparities in provider availability, injury care provider migration, and several other factors contribute to this inequity. National trauma registries will play a role in internal inequity monitoring, and deliberate development implementation of National Surgical, Obstetrics, and Anesthesia plans will help address disparities. Human, systemic, and historical factors supporting these disparities including implicit and explicit bias must be clearly identified and addressed. Systems approaches, strategic trauma policy frameworks, and global and regional coalitions, as modelled by the Global Alliance for Care of the Injured and the Bellagio group, are key. Inequity in access can be reduced by prehospital initiatives, as used in Ghana, and community-based insurance, as modelled by Rwanda.

Summary

Sub-Saharan African countries have underdeveloped trauma systems. Consistent in the narrative is the rural-urban disparity in trauma care access and the disadvantage of the poor. Further research is needed in view of data disparity. Recognition of these disparities should drive creative equitable solutions and focused interventions, partnerships, accompaniment, and action.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40719-022-00229-1.

Hospitalised infants due to falls aged less 12 months in New South Wales from 2002 to 2013

AIM

Falls are the most common injury mechanism of children <12 months in Australia. We aimed to determine the prevalence of hospital admission following a fall among New South Wales (NSW) infants and changes in admission rate over time. Secondary aims were to examine demographics, nature of injury and trends by age groups associated with developmental milestones and fall mechanism.

METHODS

This was a retrospective, population-based study across NSW from 2002 to 2013 using the NSW Admitted Patient Data collection. Infants with recorded falls, external causes of morbidity and mortality and activity codes were assessed. Main outcome measures were absolute numbers, rates and proportions by year, age group, socio-demographics, fall mechanism, injury type, body region affected and admission outcome.

RESULTS

A total of 4380 cases were identified. Numbers increased over years (342 in 2002 to 469 in 2013). Rate of admissions per 10 000 population were 40.37 in 2002 and 47.18 in 2013 (average increase 0.9% per year, P = 0.25). 76% resided in a major city, 23% resided in the least disadvantaged areas and 18% in the most disadvantaged. Falls from furniture and falls while being carried were most common. 85% suffered a head injury, 70% of which had a traumatic brain injury (TBI). There were seven deaths and one quarter of surviving infants were admitted for 2 or more days.

CONCLUSIONS

Hospital admission following a fall is a long-standing problem with no improvement among infants in NSW, commonly leading to head injury and traumatic brain injury. Effective prevention interventions are needed.

Paediatric trauma aetiology, severity and outcome

Background:

Paediatric injuries are a major cause of mortality and disability worldwide and account for a significant burden on countries like India with limited resources. There are very few studies from developing nations describing the outcome of paediatric trauma.

Methodology:

This retrospective study was done to assess the pattern and outcome of unintentional paediatric trauma in the paediatric population. The patients were categorised into four age groups of <1 year, 1–5 years, 6–10 years and 11–15 years. The data were compared regarding the mode of trauma, new injury severity score (NISS), type of injury and place of injury among different age groups.

Results:

A total of 1587 paediatric patients below 15 years of age presenting in the Emergency Department of CMC, Vellore were studied over a period of 1 year. Two-thirds were boys (1039: 66.6%). Fall on level ground (28.2%) and road traffic accidents (RTA) (26.5%) were the two most common modes of injury. A gradual change in the place of incident from home to the road with advancing age was noticed. The upper limb (30.8%) and the face (26.2%) were the most common parts of the body to be injured. One-third (35.8%) of the sustained serious injuries was a fracture or a dislocation. RTA (OR: 1.56; 95%CI: 1.08-2.26) and age ≥5 years (OR: 1.17; 95%CI: 1.08-1.26) were found to be independent predictors of severe injury (NISS >8). Only 15% required hospital admission.

Conclusion:

Fall on level ground and RTAs are the most common modes of injury in the paediatric population. The place of injury shows a gradual change from the confines of home to the open dangerous roads and playgrounds with increasing age with RTA and age ≥5 years being independent predictors of severe injury.

Incidence, Risk and Protective Factors for Unintentional, Nonfatal, Fall-Related Injuries at Home: A Community-Based Household Survey from Ujjain, India

Background

Childhood injury is an increasing public health burden and considered a major cause of childhood morbidity and mortality worldwide. In this study, we identified the distribution and risk factors for fall-related child injuries at home in Ujjain, India.

Methods

A community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted in 2017 in Ujjain, India, which included 6308 children up to 18 years of age living in 2518 households. Data were collected using a pretested, semi-structured, proforma from the parents of the included children.

Results

The overall incidence of home injury was 7.78% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 7.12–8.84) in the last 1 year, ie, 2015–16. The incidence was significantly higher at 5–10 years of age (odds ratio [OR]: 2.91, 95% CI: 1.75–4.85; P < 0.001), followed by 1–5 years (OR: 2.66, 95% CI: 1.59–4.45; P < 0.001). The incidence of injuries was higher in boys than in girls (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.73, 95% CI: 1.43–2.10; P < 0.001). Other risk factors associated with unintentional fall injuries at home were residence (rural vs urban; aOR: 1.25, 95% CI: 1.03–1.51; P = 0.018), number of family members (≤4 vs 5–10 and ≤4 vs >10; aOR: 0.69, 95% CI: 0.56–0.86; P < 0.001 and aOR: 0.67, CI: 0.48–0.94; P < 0.023, respectively), cooking area (combined vs separate; aOR: 0.82, 95% CI: 0.68–1.00; P = 0.057), and whether mother is alive vs not alive (aOR: 2.09, 95% CI: 1.10–3.94; P = 0.023).

Conclusion

The incidence of fall injuries among children at home in Ujjain, India, was similar to other resource constraint settings. The incidence was higher in rural areas, in the age group of 5–10 years, and in families in which the mother was not alive. By contrast, large and combined families had a lower incidence of falls.

Relationships between lower extremity strength and the multi-directional reach test in children aged 7 to 12 years

OBJECTIVE

This study investigates the relationships between the Multi-Directional Reach Test (MDRT) and lower extremity strength in typical children.

METHODS

The MDRT including forward, backward, leftward, and rightward directions was measured in 60 children aged between 7 and 12 years old with typical development. The lower extremity muscle groups were measured using a hand-held dynamometer.

RESULTS

The reaching score in each direction had positive relationships with the strengths of several lower extremity muscle groups ( r = 0 . 26 to 0 . 52 , p < 0 . 05 ) . Only the strengths of the hip flexor and knee flexor muscles significantly correlated with the MDRT scores in all directions ( r = 0 . 26 to 0 . 50 , p < 0 . 05 ) .

CONCLUSION

This study highlights the strength of the hip and knee flexor muscle groups as being important domain to control balance in all directions. These findings may be used for therapists in planning a balance program to improve the limits of stability.

Pediatric Thoracoabdominal Trauma: Experience from a Tertiary Care Center

Aim:

The aim of this study is to assess the pattern and mode of thoracoabdominal trauma and anatomical organ involvement, type of management employed, and overall outcomes in the pediatric population.

Materials and Methods:

A retrospective study conducted at a tertiary hospital over a period of 38 months with a total of 198 pediatric patients <12 years of age with a history of abdominal and chest trauma between July 2014 and September 2017 were reviewed. Case files of all pediatric patients were evaluated. Information regarding age, sex, mechanism of injury, site of injury, mode of injury, nature of the injury, definitive treatment required, whether conservative or surgical and outcome of patients was evaluated. site of injury, mode of injury, nature of the injury, definitive treatment required, whether conservative or surgical and outcome of patients was evaluated.

Results:

A total of 198 patients of thoracoabdominal trauma patients were studied. The majority of pediatric thoracoabdominal trauma cases were observed in males (n = 128, 64.64%) and females comprise only 35.35% (n = 70). Fall was the most common mode of trauma (58.08%) followed by road traffic accidents (30.30%), thermal injuries (9.09%) assaults in order of decreasing trends. The abdomen was the most common anatomical site of the injury (45.95%) followed by combined thoracoabdominal trauma (32.32%) followed by thoracic trauma (21.71%). Among the thoracic trauma, the most common comprised the lung contusions (37.20%) followed by the lung laceration comprising (25.58%) and rib fractures comprised only 20.93%. Among the abdominal trauma, the most common organ of injury was the liver (36.26%) followed by splenic trauma in 19.78% of patients. Approximately, 85% of patients were managed conservatively, and only 15% required major surgical intervention in the form of laparotomy and repair of bowel perforation, thoracotomy and ligation of bleeding intercostal vessels, partial and total splenectomy, repair of the liver laceration, and nephrectomy for the patient of Grade 5 renal injury with expanding retroperitoneal hematoma. Three patients died, one of which was Grade 5 renal injury with expanding retroperitoneal hematoma, two others were cases of combined thoracoabdominal trauma with massive hemothorax and both liver and splenic injury.

Conclusion:

The study defines the pattern of thoracoabdominal trauma, mode of trauma, and the prevalence of different organs involved in both the chest and abdominal cavity. We concluded that main indications for performing an operative intervention included severe hemodynamic instability, pneumoperitoneum, massive pneumohemothorax with significant shift and definitive confirmation of oral contrast leak on computed tomography films. A detailed trauma registry in our set up seems important for managing pediatric thoracoabdominal trauma.

Unsafe storage of household medicines: results from a cross-sectional study of four-year-olds from the 2004 Pelotas birth cohort (Brazil)

BACKGROUND

Unintentional child poisoning represents a significant public health problem across the globe, placing a substantial burden on health services emergency departments. Around the world, every year, thousands of children die as a result of physical injuries, most of which involve children under 5 years old. Medicines are the main products involved in poisoning, and children under 5 years old are the most vulnerable age group. The objective of this study was to measure the prevalence of unsafe storage of medicines in households with a 4-year-old child.

METHODS

We used data from the follow-up of 4-year-old in the 2004 Pelotas Birth Cohort Study in Brazil (N = 3799). "Unsafe storage" was considered present when medicines were stored unlocked and within reach of children (at a height below the eye level of the average adult). Independent variables included maternal and family socioeconomic and demographic characteristics and the child's health care. All information was collected during household interviews with the mothers using a standardized questionnaire. The overall prevalence rate with a 95% confidence interval (95% CI) and the prevalence associated with various independent variables were determined.

RESULTS

The storage of medicines in unlocked areas was reported by 80.9% of the mothers, and, within reach of children for 26.5%. The overall prevalence rate of unsafe storage of medicines was 21.4% (20.1-22.7%). The main storage locations used were the kitchen (57.0%) and bedroom (53.3%).

CONCLUSIONS

The results indicate that medicines were unsafely stored in a 21.4% number of homes, which can contribute to the vulnerability of children to poisoning from medicines. To minimize this risk, education about the safe storage of medicines should be reinforced by health professionals.

Interventions to reduce accidents in childhood: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE

To review the literature on interventions planned to prevent the incidence of injuries in childhood.

SOURCE OF DATA

The PubMed, Web of Science, and Bireme databases were searched by two independent reviewers, employing the single terms accidents, accident, injuries, injury, clinical trial, intervention, educational intervention, and multiple interventions, and their combinations, present in the article title or abstract, with no limits except period of publication (2006-2016) and studies in human subjects.

SYNTHESIS OF DATA

Initially, 11,097 titles were located. Fifteen articles were selected for the review. Eleven were randomized trials (four carried out at the children's households, five in pediatric healthcare services, and two at schools), and four were non-randomized trials carried out at the children's households. Four of the randomized trials were analyzed by intention-to-treat and a protective effect of the intervention was observed: decrease in the number of risk factors, decrease in the number of medical consultations due to injuries, decrease in the prevalence of risk behaviors, and increase of the parents' knowledge regarding injury prevention in childhood.

CONCLUSION

Traumatic injuries in childhood are amenable to primary prevention through strategies that consider the child's age and level of development, as well as structural aspects of the environment.

Multi-directional reach test in South Asian children: Normative reference scores from 5 year to 12 years old

Multi-directional reach test (MRT) emerged as a valid and reliable assessment tool for balance evaluation among elderly. The normative reference scores have been established in adults and elderly people, but they were not yet established for children. Hence, we aimed at establishing the normative reference scores of MRT among the school going children aged between 5 and 12 years. Children (N = 194; 124 males, 70 females) were recruited by the stratified random sampling for the normative study. MRT was performed by the custom made, multi-directional reach estimator. MRE device consists of three adjustable wooden frames with two metallic rulers each of 600 mm. Children were asked to reach maximum distance in forward reach (FR), backward reach (BR), right lateral reach (RLR) and left lateral reach (LLR) directions to obtain their maximum reaching ability. The mean of three readings were used to report the normative reference scores of MRT. Median age, height, weight and body mass index (BMI) were 8.5 years, 1240 mm, 27 kg and 17.24 kg/m² respectively. The normative reference scores [median (95% confidence Interval, CI)] of MRT among the children aged 5-12 years old were FR [169.7 mm (CI, 166.1-183.3 mm)], BR [77.7 mm (CI, 78.0-85.5 mm)], RLR [122.0 mm (119.6-130.9 mm)] and LLR [107.0 (105.8-119.3 mm)] respectively.

Maternal depression is associated with injuries in children aged 2-4 years: the Pelotas 2004 Birth Cohort

Introduction

Injuries during childhood, which mostly consist of falls, burns, drowning, poisonings and car crashes, are among the main causes of death among children and young adults in several countries.

Objectives

To investigate the association between maternal depression and the incidence of injuries during childhood.

Methods

In 2004, children who were born in the municipality of Pelotas, Brazil, were enrolled in a population-based birth cohort, with evaluations at birth and at 3, 12, 24 and 48 months of age. Maternal depression during pregnancy was evaluated at the time of delivery. At 12 and 24 months post partum, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was used. The injuries incidence rates at ages of 24–48 months and the crude and adjusted IRRs were calculated with 95% CI through Poisson’s regression.

Results

A total of 3533 children were analysed. The incidence of injuries was higher among children whose mothers presented depressive symptoms during pregnancy and at 12 and 24 months compared with those whose mothers did not present any symptoms. In the adjusted analysis, the IRR among girls whose mothers presented depressive symptoms during pregnancy and EPDS ≥13 at 12 and 24 months was 1.31 (1.15–1.50); and, among boys, 1.18 (1.03–1.36).

Interpretation

Maternal depression is associated with higher incidence of injuries between 24 and 48 months of age, in both sexes.

A critical appraisal of the reporting quality of published randomized controlled trials in the fall injuries

To evaluate the quality of reporting in published randomized controlled trials (RTCs) in the field of fall injuries. The 188 RTCs published between 2001 and 2011, indexed in EMBASE and Medline databases were extracted through searching by appropriate keywords and EMTree classification terms. The evaluation trustworthiness was assured through parallel evaluations of two experts in epidemiology and biostatistics. About 40%-75% of papers had problems in reporting random allocation method, allocation concealment, random allocation implementation, blinding and similarity among groups, intention to treat and balancing benefits and harms. Moreover, at least 10% of papers inappropriately/not reported the design, protocol violations, sample size justification, subgroup/adjusted analyses, presenting flow diagram, drop outs, recruitment time, baseline data, suitable effect size on outcome, ancillary analyses, limitations and generalizability. Considering the shortcomings found and due to the importance of the RCTs for fall injury prevention programmes, their reporting quality should be improved.

Epidemiology of Pediatric Musculoskeletal Injuries and Their Pattern in a Tertiary Care Center of North India

BACKGROUND

Trauma is emerging as an epidemic and a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children. Children <15 years of age comprise about 32.8% or about 1/3^rd of the total Indian population. In India, up to one fourth of hospital admissions and approximately 15% of deaths in children are due to injury. This study presents the epidemiology, various causes and pattern of musculoskeletal injuries in pediatric population of North India.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This is an observational, prospective hospital-based study conducted in a tertiary care center of North India for 6 months from July to December 2016. All pediatric patients in the age group 0-15 years who presented to the orthopedic emergency and out patient department with a history of trauma were included in the study.

RESULTS

Children aged 6-15 years (58%) suffered more injuries than children under 5 years of age (42%). Male pediatric population (58.5%) had more musculoskeletal injuries as compared to female pediatric population of the same age group (41.5%) in both the groups. Urban pediatric population (68.78%) suffered more injuries as compared to rural population of the same age group. Right extremities were more commonly involved in both the age groups. Upper limb injuries (50.59% in 0-5 years age group and 47.42% in 6- 15 years age group) were most common followed by lower limb and pelvic injuries. Very few (2.9% in 0- 5 years age group and 4.8% in 6-15 years age group) patients sustained isolated spinal injuries. Out of the 3712 patients 59.40% of patients had a history of fall, followed by road traffic accident related injuries (32%). The most common injuries were superficial injuries i.e., abrasions and bruises. The second most common injury was cut or open wounds mostly seen on hand, forearm and legs.

CONCLUSION

The high incidence of pediatric trauma on roads and falls indicates the need for more supervision during playing and identification of specific risk factors for these injuries in our setting. Injuries in pediatric age group by and large is a preventable condition. Therefore, injury prevention in children should be a priority.

Acidentes por quedas, cortes e queimaduras em crianças de 0-4 anos: coorte de nascimentos de Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil, 2004

Resumo: O conhecimento da incidência de acidentes na infância, de acordo com o estágio de desenvolvimento da criança, é importante para a formulação de programas de prevenção dirigidos para cada faixa etária. O objetivo deste estudo foi descrever a incidência de quedas, cortes e queimaduras, até os quatro anos de idade, conforme nível econômico da família e idade e escolaridade maternas, entre as crianças da coorte de nascimentos de Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil, 2004. Foram calculadas as taxas de incidências e razões de taxas de incidências entre 0-12, 12-24 e 24-48 meses. As quedas foram os acidentes mais relatados em todos os períodos, seguidas dos cortes e queimaduras. Os meninos sofreram mais quedas e cortes do que as meninas nos dois primeiros anos de vida. No segundo ano de vida, a incidência de quedas e queimaduras praticamente triplicou e a de cortes dobrou, em comparação ao primeiro ano, dentre ambos os sexos. As queimaduras ocorreram com igual frequência entre meninas e meninos nos três períodos de idade analisados. Em suma, a incidência de quedas e cortes foi maior entre os meninos. Em ambos os sexos, ter mãe adolescente foi associado a quedas e cortes nos três períodos analisados; ter mãe com baixa escolaridade esteve associado a queimaduras e cortes aos 48 meses; e ser de família de baixo nível socioeconômico, a quedas e cortes aos 48 meses.

Epidemiology of Pediatric Trauma and its Pattern in Urban India: A Tertiary Care Hospital-Based Experience

AIM

To assess the epidemiology, pattern, and outcome of trauma in pediatric population.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 1148 pediatric patients below 15 years of age presenting in the emergency department of our hospital were studied over a period of 3 years. The patients were categorized into four age groups of <1 year, 1-5 years, 6-10 years, and 11-15 years. The data were compared regarding mode of trauma, type of injury, place of injury among different age groups and both sexes.

RESULTS

The majority of the pediatric trauma cases were seen in males 69.86%, (n = 802) and females comprised only 30.13% (n = 346). Road traffic accident (RTA) was the most common mode of trauma in male children, i.e. 59.47% (n = 477) followed by fall injuries, i.e. 29.42% (n = 236). In females, fall was the most common mode of trauma, i.e. 52.31% (n = 181) followed by RTA (36.70%, n = 127). Fall injuries occurred mostly at homes. Among RTA, hit by vehicle on road while playing was most common followed by passenger accidents on two wheelers, followed by hit by vehicle while walking to school. Among fall, fall while playing at home was the most common. Out of total 1148 patients, 304 (26.48%) comprised the polytrauma cases (involvement of more than two organ systems), followed by abdominal/pelvic trauma (20.99%, n = 241), followed by head/face trauma (19.86%, n = 228). Out of total 1148 patients admitted over a period of 36 months, 64 died (5.57%). 75 (6.5%) patients had some kind of residual deformity or disability.

CONCLUSION

The high incidence of pediatric trauma on roads and falls indicate the need for more supervision during playing and identification of specific risk factors for these injuries in our setting. This study shows that these epidemiological parameters could be a useful tool to identify burden and research priorities for specific type of injuries. A comprehensive trauma registry in our set up seems to be important for formulating policies to reduce pediatric trauma burden.

Fall Injuries in Nepal: A Countrywide Population-based Survey

BACKGROUND

An estimated 424,000 fatal falls occur globally each year, making falls the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related deaths after road traffic injuries. More than 80% of fall-related fatalities occur in low- and middle-income countries. Data from low-income South Asian countries like Nepal are lacking, particularly at the population level. The aim of this study was to provide an estimate of fall-injury prevalence and the number of fall injury-related deaths countrywide in Nepal and to describe the epidemiology of fall injuries in Nepal at the community level.

METHODS

A countrywide cross-sectional study was performed in 15 of the 75 districts in Nepal using the Surgeons OverSeas Assessment of Surgical Need (SOSAS) survey tool. The SOSAS survey gathers data in 2 sections: demographic data, including the household's access to health care and recent deaths in the household, and assessment of a representative spectrum of surgical conditions, including injuries. Data was collected regarding an individuals' experience of injury including road traffic injuries, falls, penetrating trauma, and burns. Data included anatomic location, timing of injury, and whether health care was sought. If health care was not sought, the reason for barrier to care was included. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data.

RESULTS

Of 2695 individuals from 1350 households interviewed, 141 reported injuries secondary to falls (5.2%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 4.4%-6.1%), with a mean age of 30.7 years; 58% were male. Falls represented 37.2% of total injuries (n = 379) reported (95% CI, 32.3%-42.3%). Twelve individuals who suffered from a fall injury were unable to access surgical care (8.5%; 95% CI, 4.5%-14.4%). Reasons for barrier to care included no money for health care (n = 3), facility/personnel not available (n = 7), and fear/no trust (n = 2). Of the 80 recent deaths reported, 7 were due to fall injury (8.8%; 95% CI, 3.6%-17.2%), and patients had a mean age of 46 years (SD 22.8). Surgical care was not delivered to those who died for the following reasons: no time (n = 4), facility/personnel not available (n = 1), fear/no trust (n = 1), and no need (n = 1).

CONCLUSION

The Nepal SOSAS study provides countrywide, population-based data on fall-injury prevalence in Nepal and has identified falls as a crucial public health concern. These data highlight persistent barriers to access to care for the injured and the need to improve trauma care systems in developing countries such as Nepal.

Unintentional Injuries and Psychosocial Correlates among in-School Adolescents in Malaysia

The study aimed to provide estimates of the prevalence and psychosocial correlates of unintentional injury among school-going adolescents in Malaysia. Cross-sectional data from the Global School-Based Health Survey (GSHS) included 21,699 students (predominantly ≤13 to ≥17 years) that were selected by a two-stage cluster sample design to represent all secondary school students in Forms 1 to 5. The percentage of school children reporting one or more serious injuries in the past year was 34.9%, 42.1% of boys and 27.8% of girls. The two major causes of the most serious injury were “fall” (9.9%) and motor vehicle accident or being hit by a motor vehicle (5.4%), and the most frequent type of injury sustained was cut, puncture, or stab wound (6.2%) and a broken bone or dislocated joint (4.2%). In multivariable logistic regression analysis, sociodemographic factors (being male and low socioeconomic status), substance use (tobacco and cannabis use), frequent soft drink consumption, attending physical education classes three or more times a week, other risky behavior (truancy, ever having had sex, being bullied), psychological distress, and lack of parental or guardian bonding were associated with annual injury prevalence. Several factors were identified, which could be included in injury prevention promotion programs among secondary school children.

Fall-related injuries in a low-income setting: Results from a pilot injury surveillance system in Rawalpindi, Pakistan

This study assessed the characteristics and emergency care outcomes of fall-related injuries in Pakistan. This study included all fall-related injury cases presenting to emergency departments (EDs) of the three teaching hospitals in Rawalpindi city from July 2007 to June 2008. Out of 62,530 injury cases, 43.4% (N = 27,109) were due to falls. Children (0–15 years) accounted for about two out of five of all fall-related injuries. Compared with women aged 16–45 years, more men of the same age group presented with fall-related injuries (50% vs. 42%); however, compared with men aged 45 years or more, about twice as many women of the same age group presented with fall-related injuries (16% vs. 9%, P < 0.001). For each reported death due to falls (n = 57), 43 more were admitted (n = 2443, 9%), and another 423 were discharged from the EDs (n = 24,142, 91%). Factors associated with death or inpatient admission were: aged 0–15 years (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.35), aged 45 years or more (aOR = 1.94), male gender (aOR = 1.15), falls occurring at home (aOR = 3.38), in markets (aOR = 1.43), on work sites (aOR = 4.80), and during playing activities (aOR = 1.68). This ED-based surveillance study indicated that fall prevention interventions in Pakistan should target children, older adult women, homes, and work sites.

Injury prevention and care: an important public health agenda for health, survival and safety of children

Injuries affect the lives of thousands of young people and their families each year in India. With the gradual decline of communicable and nutritional diseases, injuries will be a leading cause of mortality, morbidity and disabilities and the success achieved so far in child health and survival is in jeopardy. Available data indicate that among children less than 18 y, 10-15 % of deaths, 20-30 % of hospital registrations and 20 % of disabilities are due to injuries. Based on available data, it is estimated that injuries result in death of nearly 1, 00,000 children every year in India and hospitalisations among 2 million children. Road Traffic Injuries (RTI's), drowning, falls, burns and poisoning are leading injury causes in India. Drowning and burns are major causes of mortality in less than 5 y, while RTIs, falls and poisoning are leading causes in 5-18 y. A shift in the occurrence of suicides to younger age groups of 15-20 y is a matter of serious concern in recent years. More number of males, those in rural areas, and majority of poor income households are affected due to injuries.Child injuries are predictable and preventable. Children have limitations of size, development, vision, hearing and risk perceptions as compared to adults and hence are more susceptible and vulnerable to injuries. Thus, it is important to make products and home - road and school environments safer along with greater supervision by parents and care givers. The key approaches include vehicle and product safety, environmental modification, legislation and enforcement, education and skills development along with availability of quality trauma care. Child injury prevention and care requires good quality data, building human and financial resources, strengthening policies and programmes based on evidence and integrated implementation of countermeasures along with monitoring and evaluation. Child injury prevention and control is crucial and should be an integral part of child health and survival.

Fatal and hospitalised childhood injuries in Fiji (TRIP Project-3)

AIM

Although childhood injury rates in low- and middle-income countries are known to be high, contemporary data on this topic from Pacific Island countries and territories are scant. We describe the epidemiology of childhood injuries resulting in death or hospital admission in Fiji using a population-based registry.

METHODS

A cross-sectional analysis of the Fiji Injury Surveillance in Hospitals system investigated the characteristics associated with childhood injuries (<15 years) in Viti Levu, resulting in death or hospital admission (≥12 h) from October 2005 to September 2006.

RESULTS

The 496 children meeting the study eligibility criteria corresponded to annual injury-related hospitalisation and death rates of 265.4 and 15.3 per 100,000, respectively. Most (82%) deaths occurred prior to hospitalisation. The death and hospitalisation rates were highest among the <5- and 5- to 9-year groups, respectively. Males and indigenous Fijian children were at increased risk of injury. The leading causes of injury death were road traffic injury (29%), choking (25%) and drowning (18%). Major causes of hospital admission were falls (48%), burns (13%), road traffic injury (11%) and being hit by a person or object (10%). Fractures and head injuries were the most common types of injury.

CONCLUSION

The findings support the need for a national strategy that builds capacity and mobilises resources to prevent childhood injuries in Fiji. Priority actions should include investment in technical support and research to identify local contextual and social determinants that inform the development and implementation of effective injury prevention interventions as a child health survival strategy.

Fall related injuries: a retrospective medical review study in North India

INTRODUCTION

Falls have been identified as a leading cause of injury-related morbidity and mortality in India. However, very little is known about the context and characteristics of such falls. The aim of this study was to describe the context and characteristics of fall related injuries in patients admitted to hospital for fall injury.

METHODS

Medical records of patients presenting at the Emergency Department of the Nehru Hospital, Chandigarh, India between March 2008 and February 2009, were reviewed by trained investigators. All injury cases were identified and fall related injury cases were assigned an ICD 10, Chapter XX, External causes of morbidity and mortality code. A review of medical records was conducted to determine the context, nature and site of injury associated with a fall event.

RESULTS

Ten percent (7049) of hospital emergency presentations were due to injuries, and falls were the second leading cause (20%, 1407). Seventy-six percent of the fall related presentations were in males. More than one third (36%) of the fall related presentations occurred in those aged 0-14 years old. Falls from building or structures (35%, 499) were the leading cause for all ages except for those older than 60 years, where same level falls due to slipping, tripping and stumbling (40%, 57) were predominant. Half of all the falls resulted in head injury. Nearly 10% of patients presenting for fall related injury died.

CONCLUSION

Fall related injuries are an important contributor to hospital emergency presentations, particularly falls from buildings in children, and slips and trips in older people. Given the high proportion of falls that resulted in head injury and death, there is a significant need to develop appropriate interventions to prevent such falls.

Keeping children safe at home: protocol for three matched case-control studies of modifiable risk factors for falls

BACKGROUND

Childhood falls result in considerable morbidity, mortality and health service use. Despite this, little evidence exists on protective factors or effective falls prevention interventions in young children.

OBJECTIVES

To estimate ORs for three types of medically attended fall injuries in young children in relation to safety equipment, safety behaviours and hazard reduction and explore differential effects by child and family factors and injury severity.

DESIGN

Three multicentre case-control studies in UK hospitals with validation of parental reported exposures using home observations. Cases are aged 0-4 years with a medically attended fall injury occurring at home, matched on age and sex with community controls. Children attending hospital for other types of injury will serve as unmatched hospital controls. Matched analyses will use conditional logistic regression to adjust for potential confounding variables. Unmatched analyses will use unconditional logistic regression, adjusted for age, sex, deprivation and distance from hospital in addition to other confounders. Each study requires 496 cases and 1984 controls to detect an OR of 0.7, with 80% power, 5% significance level, a correlation between cases and controls of 0.1 and a range of exposure prevalences.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Falls on stairs, on one level and from furniture.

DISCUSSION

As the largest in the field to date, these case control studies will adjust for potential confounders, validate measures of exposure and investigate modifiable risk factors for specific falls injury mechanisms. Findings should enhance the evidence base for falls prevention for young children.

Crossing safety barriers: influence of children's morphological and functional variables

Thirty-three children between 3 and 6 years of age were asked to climb four different types of safety barriers. Morphological and functional variables of the children, which were expected to influence climbing or passing through skills, were collected. The influence of those variables on children's success rate and time to cross was tested. No barrier offered a total restraining efficacy. The horizontal bars barrier was crossed by 97% of the children. In the group of children that succeeded in crossing the four barriers, mean time to cross the most difficult barrier was 15 s. Age was the best predictor for success in crossing most barriers but morphology and strength were important predictors of time to cross. The influence of anthropometric variables in time to cross was dependent upon the characteristics of the barrier. A good design of safety barriers should consider children's age, morphology and strength.

Pattern of childhood falls in a low-income setting: a cross-sectional study in Dar es Salaam

The objective was to determine patterns and circumstances of childhood falls in a low-income setting in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. This cross sectional study is based on a household survey conducted in July 2009. A total of 3927 children up to age 18 from 1928 households in 15 sampled wards were surveyed through a structured questionnaire. The current study includes information regarding fall occurrence, socio-demographic and economic factors. Data were analysed using chi-square, t-test and logistic regression. Male children had 42% higher odds of falls compared to females, and rural residents had more than two times higher odds compared to urban residents. Falls occurred three times more among age group 1-4 and two times more among age group 5-9 compared to those between 15 and 18 years. Most falls occurred outdoors (62%) while playing (51%) with boys being over-represented. Females and children aged 1-4 years fell more from stairs whereas most infants fell from furniture. Male gender, younger age groups and rural residence were significant factors for fall injuries. The circumstances in which these falls occur also differ significantly. Intervention efforts should emphasise these patterns.

The epidemiology of childhood injury in Maputo, Mozambique

Background

Injury remains a major cause of death and disability worldwide.

Aims

This study describes the characteristics of childhood injury at three hospitals in Maputo, Mozambique.

Methods

An observational, prospective convenience study was conducted in June and July 2007. We prospectively collected data on 335 children (0–14 years) who presented to three hospitals in Maputo during the study period.

Results

The prevalence of trauma-related complaints on presentation to the hospital in this study was 12%, with higher rates in boys (59%) and in those between the ages of 5–9 years (34.9%). Falls were the most common mechanism of injury (40.6%), followed by burns (19.1%) and road traffic injuries (RTI) (14.3%). The majority of falls occurred in the home (61.8%) and were unintentional. (94.1%) Burns were predominantly due to hot liquids (82.8%) and less frequently due to fire (17.2%). The majority of burns involved the patient alone (62.5%). The majority of RTIs were pedestrians struck by vehicles (81.2%). A substantial number of patients presented more than 24 h after injury (23.3%). Children from households living with a lower family income in general suffered trauma more often regardless of the mechanism.

Conclusions

Childhood injury accounts for a substantial burden of disease in Maputo, Mozambique. This study highlights the fact that many of these injuries are consistent with the injury patterns seen in children in other low and middle income countries, and are amenable to prevention, access, and emergency care programs targeted at children and their families, schools, and the local and national community.