Probing the Psychosocial Correlates of Unintentional Injuries Among Grade-School Children: A Comparison of Urban and Migrant Students in China

Abstract

Objective To assess the prevalence and characteristics of unintentional injuries among 5 to 9 grades students for both urban and migrant children groups, and probe the major socio-demographic and psychosocial risk factors. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted from May to June in 2013 with 2266 urban and 1770 migrant children among 5 to 9 grades from 13 schools in Yinzhou, Southeast China. Unintentional injuries and psychosocial factors were measured via self-administered questionnaires. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression were employed in data analysis. Results The annual prevalence of unintentional injury in the past year was 38%. Compared with urban children, migrant children reported lower prevalence of sprains/fractures (15.5 vs. 18.7%), but higher in animal bites (15.7 vs. 9.6%), burns (20.7 vs. 16%), nonfatal drowning (6 vs. 2.7%), and unintentional injury (40.9 vs. 35.7%). Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that male, young age, attending migrant children school, scoring high in emotional symptoms, conduct problems or hyperactivity, with suicide ideation, and experiencing verbal maltreatment were associated with unintentional injury incidence in the past 12 months. Conclusions The annual prevalence of unintentional injury among 5 to 9 grades schoolchildren in Yinzhou was high. Child unintentional injuries were associated with multi-level psychosocial factors. Although the direct correlation between migrant status and unintentional injuries was unobserved, migration could have an indirect relationship with injury. The findings could inform some implications for prevention strategies in urban area. Keywords Unintentional injury • Mental health • Child maltreatment • Migrant children • China Unintentional injury has been recognized as a pervasive challenge in public health, raising great concern globally (Chandran et al. 2010; de Ramirez et al. 2012). A previous study estimated a nationwide injury death rate of 65 per 100000 population in China (Wang et al. 2008), which was

Factors Associated with Serious Injuries among Adolescents in Ghana: Findings from 2012 Global School Health Survey

“…With regards to the pattern of injuries, cut/stab wounds and broken/dislocated bones dominated. The findings corroborate with previous studies in four Asian countries [ 21 ] and Gao et al [ 9 ] in China, where sprain/fracture was also found to be dominant among adolescents. Furthermore, fall and motor-vehicle accident were the most common causes of injuries among these populations.…”

“…In this study, amphetamine use was independently associated with one or multiple injuries. These findings corroborate [ 9 , 24 ]. A holistic public health strategy is an effective way to tackle substance usage in a school setting which should be enhanced.…”

“…Likewise, SHS students' exposures to previous injuries might be influencing their current risky behaviors compared with JHS students. Similar to prior studies, the survey found an association between psychological variables such as suicidal attempts and suicidal ideation [9,21,24], school truancy [24], and injuries. erapy services in the high schools should be strengthened and be able to recognize these children in psychological distress and give their full support.…”

“…While countries in the SSA report high prevalence of injuries, their counterparts in the developed world have appreciably low prevalence. For instance, the prevalence of injuries was approximately 21% in Europe [ 7 ], 24% in Canada [ 8 ], and 38% in China [ 9 ], while that of Nigeria [ 10 ] was 74%, Liberia [ 19 ] 72%, and Ethiopia [ 5 ] 63%. The observed disparities could be ascribed to a number of factors.…”

“…Prior epidemiological studies have indicated that injuries among adolescents have declined by 50% in developed countries such as Britain, US, Austria, and Canada over the past 30 years through “multisectored approach” to prevention [ 1 , 6 ]. For instance, the prevalence of injury was approximately 21% in Europe [ 7 ], 24% in Canada [ 8 ], and 38% in China [ 9 ]. In low-income countries, such studies are mostly limited to hospital and community-based information [ 1 ] and the prevalence is relatively higher.…”