Related Experiment Videos
Geographic variation of pediatric burn injuries in a metropolitan area
Kristine G Williams1, Mario Schootman, Kimberly S Quayle
1Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA. griffith_k@kids.wustl.edu
Insights
Geographic mapping and spatial statistics identified high-incidence areas for pediatric burn injuries in St. Louis. This surveillance method highlights specific neighborhoods needing targeted injury prevention strategies.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Background:
- Burn injuries represent a significant public health concern for children.
- Understanding the geographic distribution of injuries is crucial for targeted prevention efforts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To map and analyze the geographic variation of burn injuries in children aged 0-14 years within a metropolitan area.
- To utilize Geographic Information System (GIS) and spatial statistics for injury surveillance.
Main Methods:
- Patient records of burn injuries treated in 1995 at St. Louis children's hospitals were reviewed.
- Addresses were geocoded using GIS, and block group burn injury rates were calculated.
- Mapping software and Bayesian analysis were employed to visualize burn injury rates and risks.
Main Results:
- A total of 311 children were treated for burn injuries in 1995.
- An area of high burn injury incidence was identified in North St. Louis.
- Bayesian analysis revealed pockets of elevated risk within this high-incidence area.
Conclusions:
- Geographic mapping is a valuable tool for understanding injury patterns in specific areas.
- Combining spatial statistics with mapping enhances injury surveillance and identifies high-risk geographic zones.
- This approach allows for precise identification of areas needing targeted interventions for burn prevention.
Objectives:
To use a geographic information system (GIS) and spatial statistics to describe the geographic variation of burn injuries in children 0-14 years of age in a major metropolitan area.
Methods:
The authors reviewed patient records for burn injuries treated during 1995 at the two children's hospitals in St. Louis. Patient addresses were matched to block groups using a GIS, and block group burn injury rates were calculated. Mapping software and Bayesian analysis were used to create maps of burn injury rates and risks in the city of St. Louis.
Results:
Three hundred eleven children from the city of St. Louis were treated for burn injuries in 1995. The authors identified an area of high incidence for burn injuries in North St. Louis. The filtered rate contour was 6 per 1,000 children at risk, with block group rates within the area of 0 to 58.8 per 1,000 children at risk. Hierarchical Bayesian analysis of North St. Louis burn data revealed a relative risk range of 0.8771 to 1.182 for census tracts within North St. Louis, suggesting that there may be pockets of high risk within an already identified high-risk area.
Conclusions:
This study shows the utility of geographic mapping in providing information about injury patterns within a defined area. The combination of mapping injury rates and spatial statistical analysis provides a detailed level of injury surveillance, allowing for identification of small geographic areas with elevated rates of specific injuries.