Risk factors for unintentional injuries due to falls in children aged 0-6 years: a systematic review.
OBJECTIVE
To identify risk factors for unintentional injuries due to falls in children aged 0-6 years.


METHODS
A systematic review of the literature.


METHODS
Electronic databases from 1966 to March 2005 were comprehensively searched to identify empirical research that evaluated risk factors for unintentional injuries due to falls in children aged 0-6 years and included a comparison group.


RESULTS
14 studies met the inclusion criteria. Studies varied by the type of fall injury that was considered (ie, bunk bed, stairway, playground or infant walker) and with respect to the quality of evidence. In general, major risk factors for the incidence or severity of injuries due to falls in children included age of the child, sex, height of the fall, type of surface, mechanism (dropped, stairway or using a walker), setting (day care v home care) and socioeconomic status.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite a high burden, few controlled studies have examined the risk and protective factors for injuries due to falls in children aged 0-6 years. The only study to examine falls from a population health perspective suggests that age, sex and poverty are independent risk factors for injuries due to falls in children.
Khambalia
A
A
Division of Paediatric Medicine and the Paediatric Outcomes Research Team, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Joshi
P
P
Brussoni
M
M
Raina
P
P
Morrongiello
B
B
Macarthur
C
C
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control; D000367:Age Factors; D001513:Beds; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D015370:Infant Equipment; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011203:Poverty; D012107:Research Design; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012923:Social Class; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control