Epidemiology of childhood injuries in Reykjavík 1974-1991.
OBJECTIVE
To determine and analyse the incidence of childhood injuries in Reykjavík 1974-1991.


METHODS
Descriptive, retrospective study.


METHODS
Reykjavík City district with a mean number of 88700 inhabitants, of which 23.4% were children under 15 years of age.


METHODS
All children 0-14 years old who came to the emergency department at Reykjavík City Hospital because of an injury.


METHODS
Number of injured children per 1000 children per year.


RESULTS
111726 cases were studied. The total incidence of injuries increased from 275 per 1000 children per year in 1974-76 to 327 in 1980-82, but it then decreased to 275 in 1989-91. The injury incidence for 0-4 years old decreased from 353 in 1980-82 to 259 in 1989-91. The injury incidence for children 5-9 years old was 249 in 1989-91. The injury incidence for children 10-14 years old increased from 235 in 1974-76 to 336 in 1980-82, and in 1989-91 it was 321. The incidence of hospital admissions was 7.6 per 1000 children per year, or 2.6%. The child accident mortality rate in Reykjavík from 1987-1991 was 6.5 per 100000 children per year.


CONCLUSIONS
Childhood injuries in Reykjavík are far too many, and a major effort is needed to reduce their number.
Stefánsdóttir
A
A
Department of Orthopedics, Reykjavík Hospital, University of Iceland, Iceland.
Mogensen
B
B
D000059:Accidents / Q000401:mortality*; D000293:Adolescent; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007055:Iceland / Q000453:epidemiology; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D010343:Patient Admission; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014505:Urban Population; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*