BackgroundIdentifying populations at high risk for injury is a key step in developing effective strategies to reduce overall burden of injuries and gaps in injury rates between different segments of the population. This need is even more pressing in times of economic crises. Israel’s population is diverse representing different ethnic, socio-economic, religious and cultural groups. Comparing child injury risks among different segments of the Israeli population enables us to identify high risk groups and their proportion of injury burden.MethodsChild population in Israel was divided into 27 groups based on cultural and ethnic affiliation (Jews, Arabs, Haredi, and Bedouin), socio-economic status (SES), age group and region based on municipal level data. We calculated the rate of child injury per group using mortality and hospitalisation data. The relative proportion of each group’s injury burden to maximise the impact of future targeted interventions was calculated. Finally, we used cluster analysis to rank each group into one of four injury risk groups.ResultsBedouin children of low SES aged 0–4 years, in the southern region, were identified as top priority for intervention (mortality rate of 29.3 per 100,000, hospitalisation rate 807.8 days per 10,000). This group is 1.0% of the child population yet carries 8.3% of the mortality burden. The lowest priority cluster, constituting 85% of the child population includes the entire Jewish population at all SES levels as well as a minority of the Arab children (mortality rate of 2.5 per 100,000).ConclusionsThis study points at young Bedouin children as the highest risk group for injuries in Israel. Based on these findings they have been targeted for prevention efforts by national and local authorities for 2016–2020. Focusing on feasible, cost-effective, proven, and tailored interventions for at risk populations, in cooperation with community leaders, may achieve considerable and lasting improvement in safety.
BackgroundChild injury is particularly prevalent in low socioeconomic populations and minorities. In Israel, Bedouin children exhibit high rates of injuries and death. A multifaceted community intervention to reduce injury in children in and around the home was run in nine Bedouin communities in Southern Israel during 2014–2018. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of the intervention on injuries among children aged 0–4 by comparing emergency room (ER) visits and hospitalisations before and after the intervention.MethodsChild injury data (ages 0–4, 5–17) for 2013–2018 were obtained from Soroka Medical Center, including ER visits and hospitalisations. Further data on reason for hospitalisation and injury severity score (ISS) were obtained from the National Centre for Trauma Research for 2011–2018. Reach was assessed by calculating the per cent of participants from the total relevant population in each town. Poisson regression was used to assess change over time, from preintervention (2013) to postintervention (2018).ResultsA high proportion of educational institutions took part in the intervention, and around 20% of relevant households received a home visit (n=6334). There was a significant reduction in ER visits (7.6%) in children aged 0–4 in 2018 compared with 2013. Hospitalisations did not decrease significantly, although the number of admissions for burns and falls was reduced significantly at follow-up.ConclusionsThis multifaceted intervention programme resulted in reduced injury in children aged 0–4 years in the Bedouin community. The use of simultaneous multiple intervention methods was effective in increasing child safety.
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