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Pattern of childhood falls in a low-income setting: a cross-sectional study in Dar es Salaam

Benjamin Kamala1, Michael L Wilson, Marie Hasselberg

  • 1Department of Public Health, Division of Global Health/IHCAR, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. benjamin.kamala.182@student.ki.se

International Journal of Injury Control and Safety Promotion
|June 11, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Childhood falls are more common in boys and rural Tanzanian children, especially those aged 1-9. Most falls occur outdoors during play, with specific risks like stairs for younger children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric injury prevention
  • Public health research
  • Epidemiology of childhood falls

Background:

  • Childhood falls represent a significant public health concern globally.
  • Understanding injury patterns in low-income settings is crucial for targeted interventions.
  • Previous research has not fully elucidated fall circumstances in sub-Saharan Africa.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify patterns and circumstances of childhood falls in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
  • To analyze socio-demographic and economic factors associated with fall injuries.
  • To inform evidence-based injury prevention strategies.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional household survey conducted in July 2009.
  • Structured questionnaire administered to 3927 children (0-18 years) across 15 wards.
  • Statistical analysis included chi-square, t-test, and logistic regression.

Main Results:

  • Male children had 42% higher odds of falls; rural residents had >2x higher odds than urban.
  • Falls were 3x more frequent in 1-4 years and 2x more frequent in 5-9 years compared to 15-18 years.
  • Most falls occurred outdoors (62%) during play (51%); stairs and furniture were common fall locations.

Conclusions:

  • Male gender, younger age groups (1-9 years), and rural residence are significant risk factors for childhood falls.
  • Fall circumstances vary by age and gender, necessitating tailored prevention approaches.
  • Intervention efforts must address identified patterns to reduce childhood fall injuries in this setting.

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