[Daily number of accidental injuries among elementary school children and school size factors in elementary schools].
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study is to clarify the association between the daily number of accidental injuries and school size factors in elementary schools.


METHODS
The accidental injuries that occurred during the school day among elementary school children were investigated in twenty-one schools for two-month periods (from October to November) in 1999 and 2004. The relationship between the number of accidental injuries and school size factors (i.e. the numbers of school children and children per class) was analyzed by nonlinear regression analysis. The number of children injured and the frequency of accidental injuries were evaluated by school size.


RESULTS
The ratio of the average number of injuries to all injuries was 1.79 per 100 children per day. The number of injuries in the small-sized schools was 2.36 per 100 children per day, and were respectively 1.29 and 1.57 in the middle- and large-sized schools. The number of injuries was small in middle-sized schools. As a result of the nonlinear regression analysis, a statistically significant quadratic equation was provided between the number of injuries per 100 children per day and the number of children per class. The number of injuries showed a minimum value for 26.7 children per class. The number of children injured during the investigation period was larger in the small-sized schools. In the small-sized schools, in comparison with the middle- and large-sized schools, the number of accidental injuries was smaller for boys. In the large-sized schools, there were more injuries inside the school building and during the lesson break times.


CONCLUSIONS
large. In addition, it is suggested that the number of children injured was larger in small-sized schools.
Ishigure
Kiyoshi
K
Shiga University, Faculty of Education, 2-5-1 Hiratsu, Otsu City, Shiga 520-0862, Japan. ishigure@sue.shiga-u.ac.jp
D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012574:Schools / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013997:Time Factors; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*