Growing inequalities in child injury deaths in Europe

Abstract

In this short report, we describe and compare mortality data for injuries in children aged <15 years in the WHO European region as estimated by the WHO Global Health Estimates for 2000 and 2011. Child injury deaths have decreased overall. Mortality rate ratios between low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) and high-income countries in the region show an increase in relative inequalities for childhood deaths from unintentional injuries and a narrowing from intentional injury. This growing inequality in unintentional injury is a public health concern and calls for renewed efforts to reduce childhood injuries in LMIC the region.