Injury mortality and morbidity among children in the United Arab Emirates.
The objective of this study was to identify the major causes of accident mortality and morbidity among children (0-14 years) in Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates (UAE). A retrospective descriptive study was set in the Al-Ain Hospital and Preventive Medicine Department, Ministry of Health, Al-Ain. Subjects were all patients aged 0-14 years who were seen at Al-Ain Hospital for injury during the 12-month period January to December 1995, and all recorded deaths aged 0-14 years in Preventive Medicine Department from 1980 to 1995.


RESULTS
Mortality: 301 children (69.4% males, 30.6% females) died after accidents from 1980 to 1995. UAE citizens and other Arabs represented the majority of deaths. Most mortality (28.6%) occurred in the 1-4 year age group. Head and neck injury was the major type of injury causing death (57.5%). The most common cause of accidental death was road traffic accidents (boys 67.1%, girls 60.4%), followed by drowning and burns (8%). Morbidity: Pediatric trauma cases seen during 1995 totaled 17,498, representing one third of all patients attending the Hospital Emergency Room. About 70% of encountered injuries occurred among boys; 44.6% of cases were UAE citizens. The most common trauma type was contusion (40.2% boys; 40.6% girls), the most common type of trauma in boys and girls (30.4% and 36%, respectively). In the age group <5 years, the most common causes of trauma were fall (41.1%), blunt trauma (38.7%) and burns or scalds (64%), while in 5-9 year olds, the most common cause was road traffic accidents (40%). Finally, in 10-14 year olds, the most frequent causes were traffic accidents (32.8%) sharp objects injuries (38.3%), and fights and sporting (28.9%).


CONCLUSIONS
More boys than girls presented with injury and the majority were nationals. Road traffic accidents mainly occurred in children over 10 years.
Bener
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A
Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, UAE University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates.
Al-Salman
K M
KM
Pugh
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D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000059:Accidents / Q000401:mortality* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000401:mortality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D002056:Burns / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003288:Contusions / Q000453:epidemiology; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D004332:Drowning / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D019838:Neck Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D014479:United Arab Emirates / Q000453:epidemiology; D014754:Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality*; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000453:epidemiology; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000453:epidemiology