Epidemiology of paediatric injuries in Nepal: evidence from emergency department injury surveillance

Abstract

BackgroundGlobally, injuries cause >5 million deaths annually and children and young people are particularly vulnerable. Injuries are the leading cause of death in people aged 5–24 years and a leading cause of disability. In most low-income and middle-income countries where the majority of global child injury burden occurs, systems for routinely collecting injury data are limited.MethodsA new model of injury surveillance for use in emergency departments in Nepal was designed and piloted. Data from patients presenting with injuries were collected prospectively over 12 months and used to describe the epidemiology of paediatric injury presentations.ResultsThe total number of children <18 years of age presenting with injury was 2696, representing 27% of all patients presenting with injuries enrolled. Most injuries in children presenting to the emergency departments in this study were unintentional and over half of children were <10 years of age. Falls, animal bites/stings and road traffic injuries accounted for nearly 75% of all injuries with poisonings, burns and drownings presenting proportionately less often. Over half of injuries were cuts, bites and open wounds. In-hospital child mortality from injury was 1%.ConclusionInjuries affecting children in Nepal represent a significant burden. The data on injuries observed from falls, road traffic injuries and injuries related to animals suggest potential areas for injury prevention. This is the biggest prospective injury surveillance study in Nepal in recent years and supports the case for using injury surveillance to monitor child morbidity and mortality through improved data.

Pattern of Pediatric Maxillofacial Injuries at a University Hospital of Eastern Nepal

“…The most common etiology for pediatric MFIs was falls which occurred at home followed by RTA. Another study also reported that the major cause of pediatric injury in Nepal was fall which occurred at home, followed by animal bites and RTA [10]. The major area where pediatric injury happen in Nepal is at home followed by the highways/ roads.…”

Exposure to secondary traumatic stress and its related factors among emergency nurses in Saudi Arabia: a mixed method study

“…This can be explained by the nature of the nurses’ jobs and responsibilities [ 34 ]. The ED is mandated to care for emergency situations, such as injuries caused to accident victims, unexpected death, and violence [ 35 ]. In particular, their constant interaction with new death experiences of patients in the ED with significant injuries and pain, and even the loss of patients to death under their care, is a possible trigger for developing STS [ 36 ].…”

The Epidemiology of Injuries in Adults in Nepal: Findings from a Hospital-Based Injury Surveillance Study

“…This paper presents the epidemiological information and circumstances surrounding the event of the adult injury cases (18 years and above) and the findings of process evaluation. The epidemiology of injury in children under the age of 18 years is available separately [ 29 ].…”