Accidental injuries in children in Jordan

ABSTRACT

In Jordan, morbidity and mortality data caused by to injuries are unavailable or incomplete. There is only few reports on RTA /Road Traffic Accidents and fatal falls. This study, of 740 injured children, aims at finding out the distribution of injuries in children in relation to the age and sex of the child; place, cause and type of injury; and site management of the case. The study showed the following 1] Falls were responsible for 56% of injuries in this study. 2] Infants Infants are more likely to sustain injuries inside than outside their homes. Falls on the same level, or on stairs, head injuries, burns, and bumping into solid objects were relatively common among injured infants in this age group. The hospital admission rate for injured children is 35.3%.3] Children [1-4 years] Injuries inside home, falls on the same level, and lacerations were relatively common among injured children in this age group. As compared to injured infants, injured children in this age group are more likely to fall on the same level and less likely to be admitted to the hospital. Head injury in children [1-4 years] is 13.1% as compared to 47.37% in injured infants. 4] Children [5-9 years] Sixty eight percent of injured children sustained injuries outside home. Lacerations, fractures, and sprains were relatively common in this age group as compared to children aged less than 5 years. Eighty four percent of injuries were managed at home or at the outpatient clinic. 5] Children [10-15 years] Eighty five percent of injured children sustained injuries outside the home. Lacerations, contusions, fractures, and sprains were relatively common in this age group. Hospital admission rate for injured children is less than 10%.The distribution of injuries with respect to place, type, cause and site of management of the injured child differs among the different age groups of children included in the study