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Non-Fatal Injuries among Preschool Children in Daegu and Kyungpook
Soon Woo Park1, Youn Jeong Heo1, Sang Won Lee1
1Department of Preventive Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu School of Medicine, Korea. parksw@cu.ac.kr.
Insights
Childhood injury rates are highest for 5-year-olds, with falls being the most common cause. Male children and those with highly educated mothers face increased injury risks, highlighting the need for targeted safety efforts.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric injury epidemiology
- Childhood safety research
- Public health surveillance
Background:
- Preschool children are vulnerable to injuries.
- Understanding injury patterns and risk factors is crucial for prevention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate injury rates and risk factors in preschool children.
- To identify specific demographic and situational factors associated with injuries.
Main Methods:
- A questionnaire survey was conducted among 959 preschool children in Daegu and Kyungpook.
- Medically attended injuries were recorded, and injury rates were calculated using person-year.
- Risk factors were analyzed using a proportional hazard model.
Main Results:
- The overall annual injury rate was 7.5 per 100 children, peaking at age 5.
- Falls (36.0%) were the most common injury cause, followed by being struck by an object (23.7%) and traffic accidents (14.1%).
- Male gender (HR=1.49) and higher maternal education (HR=1.51 for college+) were significant risk factors for injury.
Conclusions:
- Safety interventions should target toddlers and male children.
- Establishing a robust injury surveillance system is essential for developing effective prevention programs.
- Further research into the impact of maternal occupation on injury rates is recommended.
Objectives:
This study was performed to investigate the injury rates and risk factors for preschool children in Daegu city and Kyungpook province.
Methods:
A questionnaire survey about medically attended injuries during the preschool period was performed in nine primary schools located in Daegu city, Pohang city and Goryung County. The overall injury rate was estimated using person-year. The causes and patterns of the injuries, and their risk factors were examined.
Results:
A total of 469 medically attended injuries were reported in 330 of the 959 study subjects during the preschool period. The overall annual injury rate was 7.5 per 100 children. The injury rate increased sharply during the period from infant (2.4) to 1 year of age (7.5), and the peak injury rate (9.2) was reported for 5 year olds. The most common causes of injuries were falling (36.0%), followed by being struck by an object (23.7%), and traffic accidents (14.1%). Among the traffic accidents, 72.8% occurred while playing on the road, riding a bicycle or roller-skating. A proportional hazard model showed that males (hazard ratio=1.49, p< 0.001 compared with female) and the mother's higher education level (hazard ratio of college or higher= 1.51, p=0.013; high school=1.32, p=0.085 compared with those of middle school or lower) were significant risk factors of childhood injury.
Conclusions:
The results of this study suggested that efforts for children's safety should be made, especially from the toddler stage, and in male children. To develop a more specific childhood injury prevention program, a surveillance system for injuries should be established. Further study of the relationship between mother's occupation and injury rates is also needed.
