Unintentional Injuries Among Under-five Children in a Rural Area in Delhi

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Health
• Public Health
• Injury Prevention

Background:

• Unintentional injuries pose a significant threat to child development and survival globally.
• Understanding the specific risk factors in diverse settings is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of unintentional injuries among under-five children in rural Delhi.
• To identify associated factors contributing to these injuries.

Main Methods:

• A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Pooth Khurd village, Delhi.
• Data were collected from 650 under-five children and their caregivers using a semi-structured questionnaire.
• Information on unintentional injuries in the past 12 months and related factors was gathered.

Main Results:

• The prevalence of unintentional injuries was 29.3% among the studied children.
• Male children had a 1.4 times higher prevalence of injuries.
• Injury prevalence increased with age, from 29% at 2 years to 50% at 5 years.
• Higher injury rates were observed in children of working mothers, families with over 3 children, households without a separate kitchen, and those with inadequate lighting.

Conclusions:

• Significant risk factors for unintentional injuries include male gender, older age, maternal employment, larger family size, lack of a separate kitchen, and poor household lighting.
• These findings highlight the need for targeted injury prevention strategies in rural Delhi.