Injury mortality and morbidity among children in the United Arab Emirates
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Published on: September 25, 2014
A Bener1, K M Al-Salman, R N Pugh
1Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, UAE University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates.
Insights
Road traffic accidents are the leading cause of accidental death in children in Al-Ain, UAE. Boys are more frequently affected by injuries than girls, with a majority of cases involving UAE nationals.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Trauma
- Public Health
- Injury Prevention
Background:
- Childhood accidents pose a significant public health concern in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
- Understanding the epidemiology of pediatric injuries is crucial for developing effective prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the primary causes of accidental mortality and morbidity in children aged 0-14 years in Al-Ain, UAE.
- To analyze injury patterns and contributing factors in pediatric trauma cases.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective descriptive study was conducted using data from Al-Ain Hospital and the Preventive Medicine Department.
- Data included all pediatric injury patients (0-14 years) from January to December 1995 and all recorded pediatric deaths from 1980 to 1995.
Main Results:
- Road traffic accidents were the leading cause of accidental death (60.4-67.1%), particularly in children over 10 years. Drowning and burns were also significant causes of mortality.
- Pediatric trauma cases in 1995 totaled 17,498, with boys accounting for 70% of injuries. Contusions were the most common trauma type.
- Falls were prevalent in children under 5, road traffic accidents in 5-9 year olds, and traffic accidents, sharp object injuries, and fights/sports in 10-14 year olds.
Conclusions:
- Road traffic accidents are a major cause of child mortality and morbidity in Al-Ain, UAE.
- Preventive measures should target road safety for children, especially those over 10 years.
- Injury prevention programs should consider age-specific risks and gender differences.
Unlabelled:
The objective of this study was to identify the major causes of accident mortality and morbidity among children (0-14 years) in Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates (UAE). A retrospective descriptive study was set in the Al-Ain Hospital and Preventive Medicine Department, Ministry of Health, Al-Ain. Subjects were all patients aged 0-14 years who were seen at Al-Ain Hospital for injury during the 12-month period January to December 1995, and all recorded deaths aged 0-14 years in Preventive Medicine Department from 1980 to 1995.
Results:
Mortality: 301 children (69.4% males, 30.6% females) died after accidents from 1980 to 1995. UAE citizens and other Arabs represented the majority of deaths. Most mortality (28.6%) occurred in the 1-4 year age group. Head and neck injury was the major type of injury causing death (57.5%). The most common cause of accidental death was road traffic accidents (boys 67.1%, girls 60.4%), followed by drowning and burns (8%). Morbidity: Pediatric trauma cases seen during 1995 totaled 17,498, representing one third of all patients attending the Hospital Emergency Room. About 70% of encountered injuries occurred among boys; 44.6% of cases were UAE citizens. The most common trauma type was contusion (40.2% boys; 40.6% girls), the most common type of trauma in boys and girls (30.4% and 36%, respectively). In the age group <5 years, the most common causes of trauma were fall (41.1%), blunt trauma (38.7%) and burns or scalds (64%), while in 5-9 year olds, the most common cause was road traffic accidents (40%). Finally, in 10-14 year olds, the most frequent causes were traffic accidents (32.8%) sharp objects injuries (38.3%), and fights and sporting (28.9%).
Conclusion:
More boys than girls presented with injury and the majority were nationals. Road traffic accidents mainly occurred in children over 10 years.
