Risk and protective factors for falls on stairs in young children: multicentre case-control study

Area of Science:

• Pediatric injury prevention
• Home safety research
• Public health

Background:

• Stair falls are a common cause of injury in children under five.
• Identifying modifiable risk and protective factors is crucial for effective prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate risk and protective factors associated with stair falls in children under five years old.
• To inform targeted interventions for reducing pediatric stair fall injuries.

Main Methods:

• A multicenter case-control study was conducted involving children with medically attended stair fall injuries (cases) and matched controls.
• Data were collected from hospitals, minor injury units, and general practices across four UK study centers.
• A total of 610 cases and 2658 controls participated in the study.

Main Results:

• Lack of stair gates (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 2.50) and open stair gates (AOR 3.09) were significant risk factors.
• Uncarpeted stairs (AOR 1.52), absence of mid-stair landings (AOR 1.34), and stairs in disrepair (AOR 1.71) also increased injury risk.
• Parental perception of stairs as unsafe further correlated with increased fall risk.

Conclusions:

• Structural factors like stair landings and good repair, alongside family factors such as closed stair gates and carpeted stairs, are associated with reduced stair fall risk.
• Implementing these findings in housing policy and child health promotion could significantly decrease stair fall injuries in young children.
• Targeting environmental and behavioral factors offers a promising approach to pediatric injury prevention.