Neighborhood social characteristics and fall injuries in children. An area-based study in Stockholm County.
OBJECTIVE
To study the potential influence of the composition of the population in Stockholm County on the occurrence of paediatric fall injuries.


METHODS
Odds ratios are compiled considering socio-demographic composition (socioeconomic circumstances, socioeconomic status, and social integration), fall injury mechanisms, age groups and injury severity levels.


RESULTS
Compositional characteristics impact on fall injuries in various ways depending on type of exposure, age of victim, fall circumstance, and severity level. For younger children, effects are observed above all in the case of socioeconomic circumstances and for older children, in that of social integration. Also, both protective and aggravating effects are observed. Further, all falls aggregated and for both young and old children, social integration is associated with excess odds of admissions for long-bone fractures.


CONCLUSIONS
The effect of neighbourhood social composition on fall-related injury in childhood is not straightforward. Better understanding of the underlying mechanisms may aid the determination of targets, and also enhance strategies for prevention and for the allocation of health-care resources.
Karolinska Institutet, Department of Public Health Sciences, Division of Social Medicine, SE- 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden. lucie.laflamme@ki.se
Lucie
L
LaFlamme
Anne
A
Reimers
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011610:Psychosocial Deprivation; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012933:Social Identification; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013548:Sweden; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control