Injuries during leisure physical activity in a Swedish municipality.

The objective of this study was to provide an epidemiologic basis for planning community programmes preventing injuries during leisure physical activity, especially participation in sports. A total population survey of unintentional injuries was carried out in an area with a population of over 41,000. All sports injuries (n = 933) occurring within a 12-month period and requiring medical care were noted, giving a ratio of 22.5 per 1000 inhabitants. The majority of the injuries occurred in soccer (38.9%), followed by injuries in basketball/volleyball/handball (10.9%), and bandy/hockey (9.2%). The results correspond to previous studies in southern Scandinavia. In northern communities, the proportion of injuries in winter sports has been shown to be higher. Identification of these similarities and differences between the studies makes it possible to use the findings together in the design of general community-based sports injury prevention programmes suited to northern European conditions.

One-year economic consequences of accidents in a Swedish municipality.

The objectives of this study were to develop a system to calculate the economic consequences of accidents and to account for the economic consequences of all accidents during 1 year in a district. A total population injury survey was done in an area with a population of over 41,000. All accidents (N = 4926) occurring within a 12-month period and requiring medical care were noted. The costs (calculated at 1991 prices) to the health care service (outpatient care, including primary health care and hospital care) were SEK 23.7 million (US $3.59 million), to trade and industry SEK 79.7 million (US $12.08 million), and for health insurance SEK 9.1 million (US $1.38 million). The cost for society of uninsured people is not possible to estimate using loss of production. However, the time lost from "normal activities" was registered. If this time is valued at the same price as working hours, a welfare cost of SEK 43.1 million (US $6.53 million) should be added. In a forthcoming paper, an assessment of the cost-effectiveness of interventions against accidents will be published.

Does the use of child safety seats increase as a result of loan schemes?

This population-based study carried out in central Sweden is concerned with parents' attitudes towards infant restraints in cars and whether the loaning of infant car seats leads to increased use during and after the first nine months of the infant's life. Of 937 infants born in a defined geographical area with a population of 86,000 (test group) 84.8% of parents borrowed a seat for their newborn infants. No such loan was available to the control group. Use increased greatly during the first nine months (loan period) when the seat was freely available to the test group; but no important difference emerged between the test and control groups after nine months of age concerning long or short journeys. In the test group use of the seat was lower for short than for long journeys during the first nine months. In the control group, in which the parents had to obtain their own seat, the difference was marginal. A total of 19 accidents involving infants in the study group occurred during a one-year period. In some respects the findings of the present study differ from those of two other comparable studies, particularly regarding the number of parents who chose to borrow a seat, the age of the child when starting to use the seat, and parents' views on the comfort of the seat.

Epidemiology of traffic accidents in a Swedish municipality.

Total population injury surveillance was done in an area with a population of over 41,000. All traffic accidents (N = 632) occurring within a 12-month period and requiring medical care were noted, giving a ratio of 15.3 per 1,000. They involved cyclists (38.3%), pillion passengers on cycles (1.9%), pedestrians (29.3%), motorcar drivers (7.8%), motorcar passengers (3.6%), passengers entering or leaving a vehicle (7.3%), mopedists (6.8%), motorcyclists (3.5%), and "others" (1.6%). Children and teenagers predominated in the cycle group; 55% of the males were aged 0-15 years compared with 41% of the females. Women were involved in 65% of the pedestrian accidents; 69% were aged 50 years or more. Of the accidents involving women aged over 50 years, 61% occurred in icy or snowy conditions. The police statistics were incomplete and accounted for only 23% of the total number of people reported injured by the health authorities. In some respects, the accident pattern in the present study differed from that in other comparable studies. The difference is especially great concerning the incidence of traffic accidents, the proportion of young persons involved in cycle accidents, and the number of accidents caused by motorcar drivers who developed sudden illness whilst driving.

Epidemiology of accidents in a Swedish municipality.

Total population injury surveillance was implemented in a geographical area with a population of over 41,000. All accidents taking place over one year that required medical care were noted. A total of 4,926 were registered, for a rate of 118.9 per 1,000. They consisted of accidents in the home (35.0%), sports accidents (18.9%), accidents at work (13.7%), traffic accidents (12.8%), and "other" accidents (19.5%). Men were involved in 62.2%, and were overrepresented in all age groups but 70 years and over. The commonest cause of injury was falling (36.4%), followed by injuries due to falling objects or blows (17.7%), cutting or piercing objects (15.0%), and physical overexertion (12.9%). Half of the victims covered by health insurance were put on sick leave in connection with the accident, and 12.6% of these were admitted to the hospital. The age group 13-19 years, and also men 20-29 years of age, showed the highest accident rate. The risk of accident was four times the average in mining and quarry workers. The number of accidents per resident for people living in single-family houses was almost twice that for people living in flats, a phenomenon not previously reported. Sports caused many serious injuries. In some respects the accident pattern in this study differed from that in another, comparable study and from official statistics. The difference is especially great concerning the number of accidents in the home.