A population survey of childhood accidents in Andalusia (Spain)

The aim of this study was to quantify the incidence of childhood accidents and to describe the morbidity profile of accidents in the autonomous region of Andalusia, Spain, for a three-month period (January to March) in 1990. For that purpose, a population survey based on a stratified multiphase sample design was carried out. We collected information about the most serious accident each child had suffered during the study period according to the opinion of the person interviewed (the mother in most of the cases). The cumulative incidence of childhood accidents in Andalusia for a three-month period was 19.4%, higher in urban areas than in rural ones, and lower as the age of the age group increased. As had occurred in previous studies, a higher number of accidents was observed among the male population, however, this result was not statistically significant. During the same period of time, the incidence of traffic accidents for population 0 to 14 years was 0.8%. Accidents among younger children (0 to 4 years of age) occurred mainly at home, while for children of a higher age (5 to 9 and 10 to 14) they took place, in a larger number of cases, either outdoors or at school. When the accident happened, those from the first group were mainly in the presence of their parents or other adults; in the other two groups, there were more friends or schoolmates present. Fractures and injuries, of minor severity, mainly on the head and the extremities and with no sequelae, were the most frequent types of accident.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)