Patterns of accidents among children visiting Jimma University Hospital, south west of Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND

Accidents are now becoming the leading causes of morbidity and mortality after the first year of life; hence the need to analyze the pattern in prospective manner will help plan preventive measures as well as indicate the magnitude of the problem.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the pattern of childhood accidents among children under 15 years of age.

METHODS

A cross-sectional analysis was undertaken in and out patient service settings of Jimma University specialized hospital, from July 2003 to June 2004. The information was collected using structured and pre-tested questionnaire, on factors related to socio-demographic and economic variables as well as on the nature and type of accident and analysed by SPSS Version 12.0.

RESULTS

Of the total 452 cases of accidents 79 (17.5%), 271 (60.0%) and 102(22.6%) of the subjects were within age group of 0-4, 5-9, and 10-14 years, respectively. The predominant observed accidents among all age groups were laceration wounds, 304 (67.3%) and soft tissues contusions, 111 (24.6%). Traumatic injury other than car accident accounted for 82.38%, burn 15.0%, poisoning 1.3% and car accident 1.3%. Burn was common among children 5 - 9 years. There was statitically significant association between age and type of accident and nature of injury (p <0.05). Two hudred eight one of the accident occurred at home (62.2%), followed by school (14.8%), high way (16.8%) and in sport fields (6.2%). One hundred twenty four (27.4%), 76(16.8%) and 252(55.8%) ended with complete recovery, recovery with major and minor sequelae respectively.

CONCLUSION

The study, has tried to indicate that accidents are becoming a public health problem in the area which needs designing a local as well as a national strategy on child accident prevention, conrol and management.