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Trends in childhood injury mortality in a developing country: United Arab Emirates
Abdulbari Bener1, Adnan A Hyder, Ellen Schenk
1Department of Medical Statistics Epidemiology, Hamad General Hospital, Hamad Medical Corporation, and Weil Cornell Medical College in Qatar, Doha, Qatar. abener@hmc.org.qa
Insights
Childhood injury is a significant cause of mortality in the UAE, with road traffic accidents being the most common. Injury death rates in children are decreasing and comparable to developed nations.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric epidemiology
- Injury prevention
- Public health
Background:
- Childhood injury represents a major cause of mortality in Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
- Understanding injury epidemiology is crucial for developing targeted prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the epidemiology of childhood injury mortality in Al-Ain, UAE.
- To examine injury trends, mechanisms, and mortality rates by demographics and compare globally.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective, descriptive, statistical analysis of hospital data.
- Inclusion criteria: children aged 0-14 years who died from injuries between January 1, 1995, and December 31, 2004.
Main Results:
- Injuries accounted for 29.8% of 7204 deaths in children under 15.
- Road traffic injuries were the leading cause (68.3%).
- Higher mortality rates were observed in non-citizens and males; children aged 5-14 years were most affected. Injury mortality showed a decreasing trend.
Conclusions:
- Childhood injury deaths represent a substantial public health burden in the UAE.
- Road traffic injuries are a prominent concern requiring focused interventions.
- The declining trend and comparability to developed nations suggest potential for effective injury reduction strategies.
Objective:
To describe the epidemiology of a leading cause of childhood mortality in Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates (UAE)--injury. To examine trends across types of injury, as well as the mechanisms of injury leading to death, by age groups, gender, citizenship, and explore mortality rates and make global comparisons.
Design:
This is a retrospective, descriptive, statistical analysis of unlinked hospital data.
Setting:
Al-Ain and Tawam Hospitals, and Preventive Medicine Department, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates.
Subjects:
All cases that met the conditions established for the study: fell within the age group of 0 to 14 years, suffered from injuries, and were admitted to either Al-Ain or Tawam hospitals and subsequently died within the studied time period of 1 January 1995 to 31 December 2004.
Results:
A total of 7204 deaths were reported in children below 15 years during the studied time period. Of these cases, 2150 children died due to injury, comprising 29.8% of total deaths. Further analysis showed that road traffic injuries were the most frequent cause of injury leading to death (68.3%). Overall injury death rates were higher in non-citizens (54.5%) than in citizens (45.5%); and males had a higher incidence, specifically a 2.1:1 ratio, than females. Children 5 to 14 years had the highest frequency of injury deaths. Overall, injury mortality rates exhibited a decreasing, though fluctuating, trend during the studied period at a rate that is comparable to those in other developed nations such as New Zealand and USA.
Conclusion:
The present study reveals that the burden of injury deaths among children below 15 years is significant; and injuries exist in every form and affect every age group, and gender. The high burden of injuries on children in the UAE demands the attention of the health community, including policy makers. An understanding of the trends such as those presented in this study, for instance that injuries from road traffic are prominent, will assist in the development of interventions to address this growing concern. Furthermore, similarities in rates of UAE with other developed countries signify the potential for appropriate responses to lower the burden of injuries on children in the future.
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