The incidence of home accidents is going down in Belgium

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to estimate the incidence of home accidents in Belgium in 2002 and to compare them with the results of 1996. The Belgian network of general practitioners (GPs) is a national network of GPs who collect and report data on selected conditions, including home accidents. The data about home accidents were recorded by 181 GPs in 1996 and by 150 GPs in 2002. The standardized incidence of home accidents decreased from 2935 per 100 000 inhabitants in 1996 (95% CI 2846 – 3026) to 2669 in 2002 (95% CI 2588 – 2751). This corresponds to a decrease of 9% (p < 0.001). A decrease of 14% was observed in the Flemish Community (p < 0.001). The reduction was very important (36%) among women aged between 75 and 89 years (p < 0.001). In the French community the decrease was not significant. The incidence of home accidents observed in general practice decreased in Belgium, especially in the Flemish Community.

Keywords:

• Home accidents
• General practice
• Incidence
• Sentinel networks

Acknowledgement

The authors thank Karolien Vantomme, Marianne van Winden, Neeltje Blommaert and all participating GPs. The authors did not receive any honoraria or research grants from commercial companies or professional organizations with an interest in the topic of the paper.

The Belgian sentinel network of general practices is funded by the Flemish and the Walloon Community and by the Flemish and Walloon Scientific Association of General Practitioners.