Injury among 1107 Canadian students with self-identified disabilities

Students with disabilities are at risk for poor health outcomes; however, the causes and consequences of injury in this group are not well understood. The epidemiologies of injuries among students with and without disabilities were profiled and compared.

The cross-sectional, 2002 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children Survey, was administered to a representative sample of 7235 students (grades 6-10) from Canada. Students who reported at least one functional difficulty due to a health condition were classified as having a disability. Primary outcomes were: (i) Medically attended injury; (ii) multiple injuries, and (iii) serious injury experiences during a 12-month period.

Some 16.3% of students reported a disability. Injuries were more common in students with disabilities compared to those without disabilities (67% vs. 51% annually, p < 0.01). Students with disabilities experienced 30% increases in the risk for medically attended injury, multiple injury, and serious injury as compared to their peers. Consistent and statistically significant associations (p < 0.05) were identified between different types of disability and all injury outcomes.

Canadian students who report disabilities experience higher risks for injury than their peers, perhaps due to an inability to perceive and avoid environmental hazards. Injury prevention programmes are needed to address these unique risk profiles in order to prevent additional disability or secondary conditions.