Childhood Injuries in Pakistan: Results from Two Communities

Abstract

The study aimed at determining the incidence, nature, and extent of childhood injuries in two suburban and rural communities of Pakistan. The findings of the study are based on a cross-sectional survey of 2,292 children aged 1-8 years. Information was sought retrospectively from the primary caregiver on the occurrence of injury that required formal or informal medical consultation during the past three months. The incidence rate of non-fatal injuries that required care outside home for children aged 1-8 years was 19.7 injuries per 100 person (child)-years of exposure [95% confidence interval (CI) 16.41-23.51]: 26.5 injuries per 100 person (child)-years of exposure (95% CI 21.31-32.63) in the suburban area and 12.1 injuries per 100 person (child)-years of exposure (95% CI 8.68-16.66) in the rural area. The most common non-fatal injuries were falls (10.5 fall injuries per 100 person (child)-years of exposure), burns and scalds (3.5 burn injuries per 100 person (child)-years of exposure), and road traffic injuries (RTIs) (2 RTIs per 100 person (child)-years of exposure). One fatality due to drowning was also reported during the study period. The difference among sex was highly significant (p=0.03). Boys (60%) were at a higher risk of injuries compared to girls (40%). The data also revealed that 61% of the injuries took place inside the home. The magnitude of childhood injuries in the two communities was significant compared to the findings of the National Health Survey of Pakistan (1990–1994). The fact that the majority (61%) of the injuries occurred inside the home raises many questions in relation to the household hazards and adequacy of safety and child-proofing measures in these households. There is a need to develop community-based interventions, creating awareness about the consequences of childhood injuries and educating families about preventive measures to reduce the incidence of injuries during early and middle childhood.

Childhood injuries in a tertiary institution in north east Nigeria

“…Sixty percent of the fall occurred among the age group 6-10 years while 75% of the burn injury involved children less than six years of age. Contrary to the finding in this study, fall was the predominant cause of injury in some reports from Uganda, [4] Iran, [8] Pakistan [11] and USA. [12] The report from Pakistan however noted burns as the second leading cause of non-fatal injuries, while the report from Iran did not take account of burns in the various causes of injuries.…”

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

“…The higher incidence in boys has also been reported by other authors 9,10,11,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26 . The reasons for the difference between sexes are not clear.…”

“…About half of the cohort (49.5% of girls and 55.6% of boys) ( Table 2) had suffered at least one fall during this period, with an incidence rate of 105 (100-109) per 100 girls and 136 (131-141) per 100 boys (Table 3). Cuts were reported in 14.2% of the children (12.1% of girls and 16.2% of boys), with an incidence rate of 14 (13)(14)(15)(16) per 100 girls and 21 (19)(20)(21)(22)(23) per 100 boys. Burns were the least frequent accidents in the first year of life: 6% of the children (5.2% of girls and 6.5% of boys) had a history of burns, with an incidence rate of 6 (4-7) per 100 girls and 7 (6-8) per 100 boys.…”

“…Cuts and burns were less frequent: 21% of girls and 25% of boys suffered some cut, while burns occurred in 17% of girls and 19% of boys ( Table 2). Incidence of cuts was 28 (26-31) per 100 girls and 39 (36-42) per 100 boys; burns was 20 (18)(19)(20)(21)(22) per 100 girls and 23 (21)(22)(23)(24)(25) per 100 boys (Table 4).…”

1021 Home-related injuries among children: knowledge, attitudes and practice about first aid among rural mothers

“…Regarding gender differences in types of injury, more boys than girls suffered fall and fracture injuries in our study while girls were more likely to suffer cut injuries. Lasi et al found that burn injuries were more common among girls than among boys [19] and Petersburgo et al found that most falls in Mozambique were among boys (65%) [20]. The greater rate of cut injuries among girls than boys raises several questions about the cooking and related work these girls may be doing at this young age.…”