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Economic cost of childhood unintentional injuries

Zhiqin Lao1, Mervyn Gifford, Koustuv Dalal

  • 1Independent Researcher, China.

International Journal of Preventive Medicine
|June 19, 2012
PubMed

Insights

The economic cost of childhood unintentional injuries (UI) is substantial, with significant disparities between developing and developed nations. More research is needed in low and middle-income countries to understand this burden.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Health Economics
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Childhood unintentional injuries (UI) represent a significant global health issue.
  • Estimating the economic impact of childhood UI is crucial for resource allocation and prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the economic cost of childhood unintentional injuries (UI) in children aged 0-18 years.
  • To compare the economic burden of childhood UI between developing and developed countries.

Main Methods:

  • A literature search was conducted on PUBMED using keywords: "Economic Cost", "Unintentional injuries", and "Children".
  • Nine relevant articles were selected for this review.

Main Results:

  • Studies varied in focus, including hospital costs (China), out-of-pocket expenses (Bangladesh), community costs (Vietnam), home injuries (Norway), and specific injury types like drowning, firearms, and traumatic brain injury (USA).
  • The annual economic cost of childhood UI ranges from US $516,938 to US $9,550,704, highlighting a considerable societal burden.
  • A significant gap exists in the burden of injury, healthcare, and insurance systems between lower-middle income countries (LMIC) and high-income countries (HIC).

Conclusions:

  • The heterogeneity in study methodologies and contexts makes definitive conclusions on the total economic cost of childhood UI challenging.
  • Further research on childhood unintentional injuries is imperative, particularly in low and middle-income countries, to better ascertain the economic impact and inform interventions.
Abstract

Keywords:
Childrencosthigh-income countrieslow and middle income countriesunintentional injuries

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