Unintentional child home injury incidence and patterns in six countries in Europe

Int J Inj Contr Saf Promot. 2008 Sep;15(3):129-39. doi: 10.1080/17457300802357653.

Abstract

This study investigates the incidence and patterns of child home injuries in six European Union countries. Emergency department and inpatient injury data on injuries to children aged 0-18 years in the home (n = 88,567) for the years 2003-2004 were extracted from the European Injury Database in Austria, Denmark, France, Netherlands, Portugal and Sweden. The incidence of child home injuries was 44.9/1000 inhabitants Six age-dependent injury patterns were identified using cluster analysis: 1) open wound head injuries; 2) hospital admissions for bruises, contusions, abrasions; 3) falls on stairs indoors; 4) fractures and sprains of the upper extremities; 5) crush/cut/piercing of the fingers; 6) miscellaneous injuries. Child home injuries are a considerable public health problem, particularly in the ages 0 to 4 years. The findings are useful for injury surveillance at the European level yet do not allow for designing testable countermeasures for prevention within home safety initiatives.

MeSH terms

  • Accidents, Home / classification
  • Accidents, Home / statistics & numerical data*
  • Adolescent
  • Austria / epidemiology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cluster Analysis
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Denmark / epidemiology
  • France / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Netherlands / epidemiology
  • Portugal / epidemiology
  • Registries
  • Sweden / epidemiology