Risk factors for childhood falls in Ghana: A multi-center cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND

Childhood injuries, particularly falls, are a significant public health concern in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). In 2021, falls among persons less than 18 years was estimated to be approximately 350,000 with Low- and Middle-Income Countries mostly affected. This study aims to assess the risk factors associated with falls among children in Ghana using data from multiple teaching hospitals.

DESIGN AND METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted using data from four tertiary teaching hospitals in Ghana. The study included 1555 children under 18 years who presented with unintentional injuries between January 2017 and December 2020. Generalized logistic regression was used to identify risk factors for falls.

RESULTS

Falls were the predominant injury mechanism, accounting for 55% of all reported injuries. Children aged 5-12 years constituted the largest proportion (47%) of fall cases, with males (69%) experiencing falls more frequently than females (31%). Urban residents accounted for 64% of fall injuries compared to rural (22%) and peri-urban (14%) areas. After adjustment for confounders, younger age groups showed significantly higher falls risk: infants (aRR = 1.16), toddlers (aRR = 1.61), and preschoolers (aRR = 1.46) compared to adolescents. Being Male (aRR = 1.16) and guardian's tertiary education level (aRR = 1.46) were also identified as significant risk factors of fall.

CONCLUSIONS

This study identified age, gender, and guardian's education level as significant risk factors for childhood falls in Ghana. These findings provide insight for targeted interventions to reduce fall-related injuries among children in Ghana and similar LMICs.