Community Medicine Abstracts - College of Medicine and Health ...

Project No. 42 (1994)Accidents and Injuries Among Children (Age group 0-14 years) in Al AinStudent Authors: Fadeela Mohammed ShareefFaculty Supervisors: Dr. C. Oyejide, Dr. G. AbsoodAbstract:Objective In order to determine the patterns and types of accidents and injuriesamong children in Al Ain, this descriptive study was conducted in Al Ain city between5th Nov-7th Dec 1994.Methods Records from emergency room in Tawam hospital were reviewed relating tothe common types and sites of accidents and injuries among children aged (0-14years) seen in Tawam hospital over a 2-month period. Three years data (1991-1993)for accidental injuries were collected from Al Ain Medical district.Results The most common types of injuries among children treated in Tawam Hospitalwere superficial injury (41.5%) contusion (14.4%), fractures (11.7) followed by burns(6.6%). There was a difference in the pattern of accidents by age. While superficialinjuries were most common in all age groups. Burns occurred more commonly ininfants, while the proportion of accidents that resulted in fractures increased with age.78.6% of the children with accidents presented to the hospital in the afternoon and atnight. The commonest sites for injuries were lower limb (29.3%), upper limb (24.3%),followed by face, nose, ears and eyes (19.3%). Over the three years period (1991-1993) open wound (25.4%) was the commonest type of injury followed by contusions(21.2%).Recommendation It is recommended that legislation and preventive strategies shouldcarried out to reduce the mortality and morbidity among children linked with injuries.