[Accidents in day care institutions in Denmark during the 1990's]

This paper analyses the development in the incidence of injuries in day care institutions for children below school age in Denmark 1989-1997.

Data on injuries were collected from the injury register, which covers around 15 per cent of the Danish population. The population data derive from Statistics Denmark.

Incidence patterns were analysed by means of linear regressions and comparisons of means.

Injuries in day care institutions for children below school age have increased sharply during the 1990s. In children aged 1-6, the 3-6-year-olds had a higher incidence and the boys a significantly higher incidence of injury than the girls.

The increase in injuries is to some extent explained by a higher attendance at day care institutions. The hypothesis that the rising incidence is partly due to an increase in the tendency to seek emergency department treatment in the event of minor injuries cannot be ruled out, as minor injuries almost solely account for the rise.