Epidemiology of Childhood Injuries

Objective-To determine the risk for injury associated with environmental hazards in public playgrounds. Setting-One hundred and seventeen playgrounds operated by municipalities or school boards in and around Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Methods-A regional surveillance database was used to identify children presenting to emergency departments who were injured on public playgrounds; each case was individually matched (by sex, age, and month of occurrence) with two controlsone non-playground injury control, and one child seen for non-injury emergency medical care. Exposure data were obtained from an audit of playgrounds conducted using Canadian and US safety guidelines. Exposure variables included the nature of playground hazards, number of hazards, frequency of play, and total family income. No diVerence in odds ratios (ORs) were found using the two sets of controls, which were therefore combined for subsequent analysis. Results-Multivariate analysis showed strong associations between injuries and the use of inappropriate surface materials under and around equipment (OR 21.0, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.4 to 128.1), appropriate materials with insuYcient depth (OR 18.2, 95% CI 3.3 to 99.9), and inadequate handrails or guardrails (OR 6.7, 95% CI 2.6 to 17.5). Conclusion-This study confirms the validity of guidelines for playground safety relating to the type and depth of surface materials and the provision of handrails and guardrails. Compliance with these guidelines is an important means of preventing injury in childhood. (Injury Prevention 1998;4:39-43)

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“…Reprinted, with permission, from Pickett et al 3 Note: n=117, only standards which apply to all playgrounds reported. idea, however.…”

Section: Implications For Preventionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A case-control study of risk factors for playground injuries among children in Kingston and area

et al. 1998

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“…The types of injuries children suffer show distinct patterns across age groups (Table 1) (Gallagher et al, 1984;Rivara, 1982). Infants are at high risk of death from motor vehicle collisions (Baker, 1979), falls (Helfer, Slovis, & Black, 1977), and asphyxiation (Baker & Fisher, 1980;Feldman & Sims, 1980).…”

Section: Host Factorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Exclusive of motor vehicle injuries, the types of products and activities involved in nonfatal trauma in children vary dramatically with age. Studies of emergency room treated injuries (Gallagher et al, 1984;Rivara, 1982) indicate that falls from furniture or nursery equipment are the major source of injury for infants and young children. As the child matures, sports, and recreational equipment or activities, account for an increasingly large share of the problem, causing half of all injuries to teenagers.…”

Section: Host Factorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Epidemiology and Causes of Childhood Injuries

Rivara

Mueller

1987

Journal of Social Issues

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102

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Injuries are the leading cause of death in children and adolescents after the first year of life. For individuals of all ages, the costs from motor vehicle injuries alone, when compared to other leading causes of death, are second only to the costs of cancer. Injuries are discussed within the conceptual framework of the events surrounding the injury and the classic epidemiological parameters of host, agent, and environment. Important host factors for childhood injuries include age, sex, behavioral characteristics of the child, family background, and use of drugs and alcohol. The environment encompasses the socioeconomic environment of the child, the physical environment, and the legislative environment. Specific agents or vectors of injury are discussed, including fireworks, poisoning, flammable fabrics, hot tapwater, farm equipment, and firearms. Approaches to injury prevention are suggested, both for research investigation and child advocacy.

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“…1 Despite scienti c and technological advances in medicine, accidents remain an important cause of childhood morbidity, permanent disability and death throughout the world. 2,3 It is calculated that for every fatal accident more data on mortality and severe cases requiring hospitalization than on morbidity, which are more dif cult to obtain. 8 This study proposes a method of determining the prevalence of accidents, based on an active search for information through home surveys to identify less serious accidents which are not being recorded by any health care service but contribute signi cantly to morbidity rates.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Incidence of childhood accidents determined in a study based on home surveys

et al. 2001

Annals of Tropical Paediatrics

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A retrospective survey of accidents during a 12-month period was carried out at Vila Lobato in the town of Ribeirão Preto, Brazil using home surveys involving 25% of residences in this area. Variables relating to the accidents and data concerning the children involved were analyzed, i.e. sex, age, type of accident, place of occurrence, time of day, time of year, which part of the body was involved and the person accompanying the victim of the accident. There were 260 accidents during the year, mainly involving the 1-5-year (41.1%) and 5-10-year (33.1%) age ranges. The most frequent accidents were falls (46.9%), contusions (26.5%) and cuts (11.9%). Most accidents occurred at home (65.7%), followed by in the street (25.4%) and at school (6.1%). More accidents occurred in the late afternoon (49.6%) and during the summer months and school holidays (38.1%) than at other times. The lower limbs were the sites most often involved (36.9%), followed by the upper limbs (32.3%) and the head (25.4%). Most children (75.7%) were accompanied when they suffered an accident. Slightly more boys (55.4%) than girls (44.6%) had accidents. Statistical analysis of the results by the chi 2 test showed significant differences for all variables studied with respect to the occurrence of accidents (p < 0.05), except gender. The authors discuss the need to expand the debate on accidents and for the application of knowledge to prevent them occurring.

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Epidemiology of Childhood Injuries

Cited by 70 publications

References 64 publications

A case-control study of risk factors for playground injuries among children in Kingston and area

A case-control study of risk factors for playground injuries among children in Kingston and area

The Epidemiology and Causes of Childhood Injuries

Incidence of childhood accidents determined in a study based on home surveys

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