Epidemiology of school accidents during a six school-year period in one region in Poland.
BACKGROUND
The aim of the study was to analyse the incidence of school accidents in relation to school size, urban/rural environment and conditions of physical education classes.


METHODS
202 primary schools with nearly 50,000 students aged 7-15 years were studied during a 6-year period in the Włocławek region in Poland.


RESULTS
There were in total 3274 school accidents per 293,000 student-years. Accidents during breaks (36.6%) and physical education (33.2%) were most common. Most frequently accidents took place at schoolyard (29.7%), gymnasium (20.2%), and in the corridor and stairs (25.2%). After adjustment for students' age and sex, student-staff ratio and duration of school hours, urban environment increased the probability of accident (OR: 1.25; 95% CI: 1.14-1.38). Middle-size schools (8-23 classes) had similar accident rate as small schools (OR: 0.93; 95% CI: 0.83-1.04), while schools with 24-32 classes (OR: 1.26; 95% CI: 1.10-1.43) and with > or = 33 classes (OR: 1.36; 95% CI: 1.17-1.58) had increased accident rate. Presence of a gymnasium was also associated with increased probability of accident (OR: 1.49; 95% CI: 1.38-1.61).


CONCLUSIONS
Urban environment, larger school-size and equipment with full-size gymnasium are important and independent risk factors for school accidents. These findings provide some new insights into the epidemiology of school-related accidents and may be useful information for the planning of strategies to reduce accident incidence in schools.
Department of Preventive Medicine, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
Stefania
S
Sosnowska
Tomasz
T
Kostka
D000059:Accidents / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010806:Physical Education and Training / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D011336:Probability; D012307:Risk Factors; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012574:Schools / Q000145:classification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012931:Social Environment; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data