Population-based incidence of injuries among preschoolers
1Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Lausanne, Switzerland.
Insights
Preschooler injury rates are alarmingly high, with falls being the most common cause. Routine parent counseling by healthcare providers is crucial for effective injury prevention strategies.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Childhood injuries pose a significant public health concern.
- Understanding injury incidence and risk factors in preschoolers is vital for prevention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence of injuries among preschoolers (0-5 years).
- To identify risk factors associated with these injuries in the Canton of Vaud, Switzerland.
Main Methods:
- A systematic sample of 4540 families with young children was surveyed via mail in 1992.
- Injuries were defined as those with at least one physician contact in 1991.
- Response rate was 67.5%.
Main Results:
- Overall injury incidence was 224 per 1000 children.
- Falls accounted for 66% of injuries, followed by burns (8%) and poisonings (5%).
- Hospitalization incidence due to injury was 10.8 per 1000 children; socioeconomic factors did not show influence.
Conclusions:
- Preschooler injury incidence in this study is among the highest reported in developed nations.
- Healthcare practitioners can enhance injury prevention via consistent parent education across all socioeconomic groups.
Unlabelled:
A population survey was conducted to determine the incidence of injuries among preschoolers and their risk factors. A systematic sample (15%, n = 4540) of families with at least one child aged 0-5 years in 1991 living in the Canton of Vaud (Switzerland) received a mailed questionnaire in February 1992. There were 5827 eligible children in the sample. The response rate was 67.5% after two recall mailings. Injuries were defined as those from all causes with at least one physician contact in 1991. The overall incidence was 224 injuries per 1000 children (95% CI [= confidence intervall]: 211-237); 188 per 1000 children were injured over 1 year (95% CI: 176-200, n = 746), of whom 16.5% (n = 123) had 32 injuries. Falls represented 66% of all injuries, followed by burns (8%) and poisonings (5%). The proportion of hospitalized cases was 4.8% and the population incidence of hospitalization due to injury was 10.8/1000 children. Socioeconomic factors did not influence the occurrence of injuries.
Conclusion:
The measured incidence of injuries among preschoolers is among the highest in developed countries. Practitioners could contribute more effectively to injury prevention through routine information and counselling of parents from all social backgrounds.
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