Injury risks and socioeconomic groups in different settings. Differences in morbidity between men and between women at working ages.

BACKGROUND: It is unclear whether greater injury risk in lower socioeconomic groups at working ages is attributable to differences in work conditions or a reflection of a wider overall pattern of risk. The current study investigates socioeconomic differences in non-fatal injury risks in a variety of settings. METHODS: Data were taken from a community-based injury register built up over one year (November 1989 to October 1990) in a semi-urban Swedish municipality (256,510 inhabitants), and then linked by record to Sweden's National Population Register (based on the census of 1990). Injuries among the age group 20-64 were considered. Age-standardized odds ratios were computed by gender for five injury settings and four socioeconomic groups, using salaried employees as the reference group. RESULTS: Compared with salaried employees, male manual workers and from the unspecified population (long-term unemployed, students, etc.) show an excess risk of injury in all settings except sports. Males from all socioeconomic groups show significantly higher morbidity in production/education areas. Female manual workers show significantly higher morbidity in home settings and in production/education; those from the unspecified population, in home settings, transport areas, and 'other areas'. CONCLUSION: Higher morbidity in lower socioeconomic groups results not only from work-related differences, where 25% of the injuries analysed were incurred, but also from the differential impacts of other living environments, e.g. home and transport areas. Differences between socioeconomic groups in care seeking, injury lethality, injury susceptibility, and risk exposure may influence the social patterning of injury morbidity.

Injuries to pre-school children in a home setting: patterns and related products.

The current study was undertaken to examine the most typical circumstances of and products related to injuries to pre-school children at home, and to establish the extent to which any injury patterns found were age- or gender-related. Data were taken from a community-based injury register built up over a 1-y period in a Swedish county. Injury incidence by gender and age was calculated, and typical injury patterns were identified through analysis of seven characteristics of the injuries, employing multivariate techniques. Injury incidence was higher for children aged 1 and 2 y, and for boys at all pre-school ages. Five typical injury patterns were identified, and their relation to gender and age highlighted. It is concluded that a focus on passive protection is likely to offer the most effective means of prevention. This could be achieved by safer home designs, building structures, items of equipment and products.

School-injury patterns: a tool for safety planning at the school and community levels.

This study analyses surveillance data on school injuries. Its aim is to create a typology of injury characteristics and circumstances specifically designed to elaborate safety strategies. Seven variables describing aspects of 1260 school injuries registered in a 1 year community survey were analysed simultaneously using, in sequence, the factorial analysis of correspondence (FAC) and the hierarchical ascendant classification (HAC). Relationships between injury pattern and injured pupils' school grade and gender were measured. A typology comprising five injury patterns was obtained and significant relationships were found between injury pattern and both school grade and gender. The construction of an injury typology by means of methods similar to those employed in the current study may prove of great benefit in the context of school injury prevention. Such benefit might accrue to both decision-makers concerned with setting of priorities and persons in this environment.

An epidemiological study of bicycle-related injuries.

The objectives of this study were to describe bicycle-related injuries in relation to injury patterns, age, gender and medical treatment in a defined Swedish population and to identify factors contributing to injury. The study group comprised all patients living in the county of Västmanland, Sweden, visiting a physician or dentist because of bicycle-related injury during one year (November 1989-October 1990). Cyclists were mostly injured on pavements, pedestrian malls and cycle tracks. Twenty percent of the events occurred on public roads in urban areas; most frequently, the injured were in the age range 0-24. The most common bicycle injury event involved no other party. The events were often caused by environmental factors, in combination with behaviour such as excessive speed, lack of attention, breach of traffic regulations or a co-ordination problem. Head injuries, including oral injuries, were the most common, in particular among children and adolescents. One in four children in the age range 0-9 sustained an oral injury.

Incidence of traumatic tooth injuries in children and adolescents in the county of Västmanland, Sweden.

The study reports the total incidence as well as the incidence of different types of traumatic tooth injuries in a Swedish county in the age interval 0-19 years during 1989/90. The incidence of individuals experiencing tooth injuries was 13 per 1000 per year. Boys were more frequently injured in the age-groups 3-4 years and 7-9 years and girls, in the age-group 5-6 years. A method is presented defining uncomplicated and complicated tooth injuries as a basis for estimating the economic consequences of these injuries in the community. Boys more often suffered uncomplicated injuries to permanent teeth and girls, to primary teeth (p < 0.05). The same distribution was found for uncomplicated multiple tooth injuries. Boys sustained more uncomplicated hard tissue injuries and girls, more uncomplicated luxation injuries (p < 0.01). Using a classification according to the most serious tooth injury in each episode, 33% of the episodes had resulted in complicated injuries in which the pulpal tissue and/or periodontal membrane was severely damaged.