Factors Associated with Unintentional Injury among University Students in 26 Countries

Prevalence of Road Risk Behaviors and Associated Factors Among Undergraduate College Students in Delhi: Findings From the Health Risk Behavior Survey

Background: Youth constitute one of the most vulnerable groups for practicing risky road behaviors. Road traffic accidents (RTAs) are one of the leading preventable causes of disability and mortality among children and young adults across the globe. 

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of road risk behaviors among college students of Delhi and to determine the factors associated with it.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2020 to September 2021 across five administrative zones in Delhi, India. Six hundred seventy-five undergraduate college students were selected across five colleges using stratified random sampling. 

Results: The mean age of the study participants was 19.62 years (S.D. = ± 1.328). Among the study participants, more females (52.6%) were present than males (47.4%). Almost one-fifth of the participants reported not wearing a seat belt while driving or riding in a car during the past 30 days. Some 37.2% of the participants reported using a mobile phone while driving a car within the past 30 days. The prevalence of riding in a car driven by a person after drinking alcohol was 17.4%. Similarly, the prevalence of drinking and driving was 17.2% amongst the study participants. The prevalence of not wearing a helmet while driving or riding a two-wheeler vehicle was 42.6%. The overall prevalence of risky road behaviors was 16.7%. The multivariate analysis results revealed the odds of road risk behaviors to be significantly higher among those who were alcohol users (adjusted odds ratio, aOR=7.3, confidence interval, CI=3.8-13.8), substance abusers (aOR=2.4, CI=1.4-4.3), and those belonging to rural areas (aOR=4.2, CI=2.4-7.3).

Conclusion: The prevalence of road safety-related risky health behaviors was high among the study participants. The significant road-risk behaviors were not wearing a helmet while riding or driving a two-wheeler vehicle, texting or talking while driving, and driving a car under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Unintentional Injury Burden in Hong Kong: Results from a Representative Population-Based Survey

Unintentional injuries are major causes of mortality and morbidity. Although generally perceived as accidents, it is possible to identify those at higher risk and implement appropriate prevention measures. This study aims to investigate the common causes of unintentional injuries and their associated risk factors among a large representative sample. Data of 12,022 individuals who completed the Hong Kong Population Health Survey 2014/15 were extracted. The primary outcome was the prevalence of having unintentional injury(-ies) in the previous 12 months that was severe enough to limit daily activities. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify associations between injuries and sociodemographic, clinical and lifestyle factors. 14.5% of respondents reported episode(s) of unintentional injury in the past 12 months in the population level. The main causes of top three most severe unintentional injuries were sprains (24.0%), falls (19.9%) and being hit/struck (19.6%). 13.2% injury episodes were work-related among the most severe episode. Factors independently associated with significantly higher risks of injury included currently employed, homemaker or student, born in Hong Kong (as compared with immigrants), doctor-diagnosed chronic conditions, harmful alcohol consumption, insufficient sleep, and disturbed sleep. To summarize, unintentional injuries are highly prevalent and associated with harmful drinking, insufficient sleep, and disturbed sleep, which are potential modifiable risk factors for prevention.

Percentage of Injuries, and Related Factors Among a Group of Medical Students in Cairo University: A Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND: There has been a lack of data on injuries in young adults, including university students, in particular medical students. AIM: The current study was conducted to explore the percentage, and related factors of injuries among a group of medical students, who constitute an important risk group for accidents and injuries. METHODS: This exploratory cross-sectional study was conducted in Kasr Al-ainy Medical School. A convenient sample of medical students was chosen. 1300 survey questionnaires were distributed along all academic years, 807 from them were completely retrieved. The questionnaire form was adopted from “Health behavior survey among university students in low- and middle-income countries questionnaire.” Data entry and analysis were carried out using SPSS 21.0. RESULTS: One-quarter reported having a form of injury last year. Falling was the most nominated cause of injuries by the participant students (5,31.3%). Only those who “perceived” their general health as “well” reported being injured significantly more than those who perceived their general health as poor, with a p value = 0.006 and odds ratio of 1.6 (1.1–2.2). Taking drugs was the only factor significantly determining how the injury happened; whether it is intentional or unintentional with a p = 0.01 highlighting that about one-third (5, 31.3%) of those who were intentionally injured were taking drugs. CONCLUSION: Two factors were identified which will increase the understanding of public health of injuries in university communities to design programs for injury prevention programs specifically targeting medical students.

Associations of serious physical injuries with posttraumatic stress and depressive symptoms: a cross-sectional survey among university students in 26 countries

Background

Evidence of the relationship between serious physical injury and poor mental health among university students from low- and middle-income countries is limited. The aim of the study is to assess the association between serious physical injury and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depressive symptoms in university students from low- and middle-income countries.

Methods

In a cross-sectional survey, 18,382 university students from 26 countries responded to a short screening scale for DSM-IV PTSD, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale as well as questions on injury and sociodemographics.

Results

The overall prevalence of past 12-month serious physical injury was 24.7%. In adjusted logistic regression analysis, compared to having no past 12-month serious physical injury, having a past 12-month serious injury was associated with 1.35 (95% CI 1.18, 1.56) times higher odds for PTSD symptoms and 1.49 (95% CI 1.32, 1.67) times higher odds for depressive symptoms in university students.

Conclusion

Compared to students who had not sustained a serious physical injury in the past 12 months, students with an injury had significantly higher PTSD and depressive symptoms. Mental health support of students who sustained physical injuries may prevent PTSD and depressive symptoms.

Prevalence and behavioural associations of unintentional injuries among Chinese college students: a 50-University population-based study

OBJECTIVE

To assess the prevalence, demographic characteristics and behavioural correlates of unintentional injuries among Chinese college students.

METHODS

A cross-sectional multistage survey sampling process was conducted among 11 770 undergraduates from 50 universities in China. Students were asked to report different types of unintentional injuries that required medical attention from a doctor over the past year. The χ² test and multiple logistic regression analysis were used to identify factors associated with these injuries.

RESULTS

The overall unintentional injury prevalence was 47.9% (95% CI 47.6% to 48.2%). Most injuries occurred at sport venues (24.0%), following by home/dormitory injuries (20.5%) and traffic injuries (13.0%). Some behavioural factors exhibiting significant associations with overall unintentional injuries were: sleeping less than 7 hours (OR=1.32, 95% CI 1.27 to 1.37), smoking (OR=1.28, 95% CI 1.23 to 1.32), alcohol consumption (OR=1.74, 95% CI 1.69 to 1.78) and heavy internet use (OR=1.60, 95% CI 1.52 to 1.67). Male students were more likely to be involved in traffic and sport injuries than female students. Students majoring in non-medical fields had a higher risk of sport and home injuries than students majoring in medical fields. Those who drank alcohol, slept less than 7 hours or who reported heavy internet use were more likely to experience all types of injuries than students who did not participate in these behaviours. Finally, students who smoked had a higher likelihood of traffic and sport injuries than non-smoking students.

CONCLUSIONS

A substantial number of college students reported injuries in the past year, and several key behavioural factors were associated with injuries. These findings could be beneficial for the design, implementation and assessment of injury intervention programme with college students. Based on these findings, policy implications for unintentional injury prevention and control were also considered.

Interactions of problematic mobile phone use and psychopathological symptoms with unintentional injuries: a school-based sample of Chinese adolescents

Background

Unintentional injuries are a major contributor to morbidity and mortality in adolescents. Mobile phone use in certain circumstances (e.g., driving, cycling, walking) and mental health conditions are risk factors for unintentional injury. However, research on the interactions between problematic mobile phone use (PMPU) and psychopathological symptoms in unintentional injuries is limited. The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of unintentional injuries (road traffic injuries, pedestrian collisions, and falls) and examined interactions of PMPU and psychopathological symptoms with unintentional injuries in a school-based sample of Chinese adolescents.

Methods

A total of 14,221 students (6915 middle school students and 7306 high school students) were randomly selected from 32 schools in four cities in China in 2012. The sample comprised 6712 boys and 7509 girls with a mean age of 15.12 years (standard deviation 1.89 years). PMPU, psychopathological symptoms, and unintentional injuries were measured with validated instruments. Chi-square tests and multivariable logistic regression were used to analyze the rates of unintentional injuries, the relationship with PMPU and psychopathological symptoms, and the interactions of PMPU and psychopathological symptoms with unintentional injuries.

Results

The prevalence of road traffic injuries, pedestrian collisions, and falls were 4.9, 16.2, and 10.1 %, respectively. The rates of unintentional injuries were higher among students with PMPU and psychopathological symptoms. Interaction analysis indicated that psychopathological symptoms were associated with a greater increase in the likelihood of unintentional injuries for adolescents with PMPU than for those without PMPU.

Conclusions

The findings indicate that unintentional injuries in adolescents are an important public health issue in China that merit further research. Intervention programs must consider the adolescents’ behavioral and psychological health.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12889-016-2776-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.