Epidemiology of childhood injuries in Reykjavík 1974-1991

Abstract

Objective - To determine and analyse the incidence of childhood injuries in Reykjavík 1974-1991.

Design - Descriptive, retrospective study.

Setting - Reykjavík City district with a mean number of 88 700 inhabitants, of which 23.4% were children under 15 years of age.

Subjects - All children 0-14 years old who came to the emergency department at Reykjavík City Hospital because of an injury.

Main outcome measures - Number of injured children per 1000 children per year.

Results - 111 726 cases were studied. The total incidence of injuries increased from 275 per 1000 children per year in 1974-76 to 327 in 1980-82, but it then decreased to 275 in 1989-91. The injury incidence for 0-4 years old decreased from 353 in 1980-82 to 259 in 1989-91. The injury incidence for children 5-9 years old was 249 in 1989-91. The injury incidence for children 10-14 years old increased from 235 in 1974-76 to 336 in 1980-82, and in 1989-91 it was 321. The incidence of hospital admissions was 7.6 per 1000 children per year, or 2.6%. The child accident mortality rate in Reykjavík from 1987-1991 was 6.5 per 100 000 children per year.

Conclusion - Childhood injuries in Reykjavík are far too many, and a major effort is needed to reduce their number.

Key Words:

• accidents
• epidemiology
• children
• injuries
• prevention