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Age in months and birth order in infant nonfatal injuries: A retrospective cohort study
C Honda1, H Yamana2, H Matsui3
1Department of Community Health Nursing, Division of Health Sciences and Nursing, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
Insights
One-fifth of infant injuries occur within the first 4 months of life. Early injury prevention education is crucial for caregivers, particularly for first-born infants, to reduce nonfatal injuries.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Injury Prevention
Background:
- Infant injuries are a significant concern, necessitating an understanding of their timing and risk factors.
- Early identification of injury patterns can inform targeted prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the age at which infants first seek medical care for nonfatal injuries.
- To identify risk factors associated with these early-life injuries.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study utilizing a Japanese health insurance claims database.
- Analysis of 46,431 infants born between April 2012 and December 2014, followed for 12 months.
- Cox regression analysis to assess the impact of infant sex, birth order, and parental age on injury occurrence.
Main Results:
- 16.4% of infants experienced nonfatal injuries within their first year.
- A substantial proportion of these injuries (21.7%) occurred by 4 months of age, and 44.7% by 7 months.
- First-born infants showed a higher likelihood of sustaining wounds/fractures and burns.
Conclusions:
- A significant portion of initial nonfatal infant injuries manifest within the first four months of life.
- Healthcare providers should prioritize early injury prevention education for parents and caregivers, with a focus on those with first-born infants.
Objective:
To examine the age in months at which infants visited outpatient clinics or emergency rooms for the first time for nonfatal injuries and to identify risk factors for the occurrence of these injuries.
Study Design:
Retrospective cohort study.
Methods:
We used a health insurance claims database in Japan. Infants born between April 2012 and December 2014 were identified and followed until 12 months of age. We identified their first visit to outpatient clinics or emergency rooms because of nonfatal injuries (wounds/fractures, foreign bodies, and burns). Cox regression analysis was used to examine the association of nonfatal injuries with infants' sex, birth order, and parental age.
Results:
We identified 46,431 eligible infants. Of these, 7606 (16.4%) were brought to an outpatient clinic or emergency room for nonfatal injuries within 12 months of birth. Of the 7,606, 21.7% were aged ≤4 months and 44.7% ≤ 7 months. First-born infants were more likely to have wounds/fractures and burns.
Conclusion:
One-fifth of first nonfatal infant injuries occurred within 4 months of age. Healthcare providers should provide early education about injury prevention, especially to caregivers of first-born infants.
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