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Updated: Sep 22, 2025
Design and Analysis for Fall Detection System Simplification
Published on: April 6, 2020
Risk factors for falls among children aged 0-18 years: a systematic review
Lan Wang1, Mao-Lin Qian1, Xiao Shan1
1School of Medicine, Nantong University, No. 19, Qi Xiu Street, Nantong, 226007 , China.
Insights
Accidental falls are a major cause of childhood injury. This study identified 12 key risk factors, including age, sex, and environmental influences, to help prevent pediatric falls.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric injury prevention
- Childhood health and safety
- Epidemiology of accidental injuries
Background:
- Accidental falls represent the leading cause of injury in children.
- Pediatric falls result in significant pain, injury, and socioeconomic costs.
- Understanding fall risk factors is crucial for effective prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically identify and analyze the risk factors associated with accidental falls in children aged 0-18 years.
- To inform targeted interventions for reducing pediatric fall injuries.
Main Methods:
- A systematic literature review was conducted on studies of falls in children aged 0-18 years.
- Studies involving falls from a height of 1 meter or more were excluded.
- Included studies were analyzed to extract and categorize fall-related risk factors.
Main Results:
- Nine articles published between 1995 and 2021 were included in the analysis.
- Identified risk factors encompass individual characteristics (age, sex, extroversion, history of falls, disease factors), medication use, and medical procedures (intravenous therapy, tests requiring movement).
- Environmental and social factors such as rural settings, family dynamics, caregiver influences, and prolonged hospital stays were also found to be significant.
Conclusions:
- A comprehensive set of 12 risk factors contributing to falls in children was identified.
- These factors span individual, familial, and societal domains, highlighting the multifactorial nature of pediatric falls.
- The findings provide a foundation for developing evidence-based strategies to mitigate fall risks in pediatric populations.
Background:
Accidental falls are the most common cause of injury in children. These falls not only result in pain and injury to children but also can pose a significant financial burden to their families and society. The aim of this study is to identify risk factors for falls in children.
Methods:
We conducted a systematic review of the literature describing falls in children aged 0-18 years. Studies of falls from a height of 1 m or more were excluded from the analysis. We analyzed the included studies to identify risk factors for falls.
Results:
A total of 1496 articles were initially retrieved, leading to an included set of nine articles, which were published from 1995 to 2021. Risk factors related to fall injury in children aged 0-18 years included age, sex, extroversion, rural areas, history of falls, family factors, caregiver factors, medication use, intravenous therapy, tests requiring movement, disease factors and long hospital stay.
Conclusion:
We identified 12 risk factors affecting falls in children, including individual characteristics and family and social factors.
