auses, Patterns and Outcome of Severe Injuries in Children -A Hospital-based Study

Abstract

Background: Injuries are important causes of morbidity and mortality in childhood. There is therefore a need, especially in developing countries, to determine the relative contributions made by injuries singly and in combinations, to childhood morbidity and mortality in hospital practice.

Objectives: To determine the causes, patterns, and outcome of various childhood injuries resulting in hospital admissions over a 15-year period. Design: Retrospective analysis of hospital records.

Patients and Methods: The case files of all children aged 16 years and below, admitted to the Wesley Guild Hospital, Ilesa, between 1984 and 1998 with burns, poisoning, animal bites and stings, bone, joint, head, soft tissue and other injuries, were analysed and the data on various injury types, compared.

Results: Injuries accounted for 5.1 percent of total paediatric admissions and 5.4 percent of deaths during the study period, with males predominating in every injury type. Fractures, burns, poisoning, soft tissue and head injuries constituted 36.5, 23.4, 13.3, 12.2 and 10.6 percent respectively, of the 1,249 total injuries seen. Motor vehicle accidents and falls were responsible for 85.6 percent of all fractures, soft tissue and head injuries. Hot water caused 521 percent of all burns while 36.7 and 24.7 percent respectively, of poisoning were due to kerosene and traditional drug mixtures. Vehicle related injuries constituted a significant percentage of all injuries in the last decade of the review. Duration of hospitalisation was significantly longer for fractures than for any other injury type. Mortality rates were 9.2 and 12.7 percent respectively, for burns and poisoning, both of which accounted for 71.6 percent of deaths due to injuries.

Conclusion: Health promoting and injury preventive interventions should be instituted to reduce the rate of injuries and their effects on children.

Keywords: Injuries, Nigerian children, Causes, Patterns.