title: Taking the long view: a systematic review reporting long-term perspectives on child unintentional injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The relative significance of child injury as a cause of preventable death has increased as mortality from infectious diseases has declined. Unintentional child injuries are now a major cause of death and disability across the world with the greatest burden falling on those who are most disadvantaged. A review of long-term data on child injury mortality was conducted to explore trends and inequalities and consider how data were used to inform policy, practice and research.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors systematically collated and quality appraised data from publications and documents reporting unintentional child injury mortality over periods of 20 years or more. A critical narrative synthesis explored trends by country income group, injury type, age, gender, ethnicity and socioeconomic group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  31 studies meeting the inclusion criteria were identified of which 30 were included in the synthesis. Only six were from middle income countries and none were from low income countries. An overall trend in falling child injury mortality masked rising road traffic injury deaths, evidence of increasing vulnerability of adolescents and widening disparities within countries when analysed by ethnic group and socioeconomic status.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Child injury mortality trend data from high and middle income countries has illustrated inequalities within generally falling trends. There is scope for greater use of existing trend data to inform policy and practice. Similar evidence from low income countries where the burden of injury is greatest is needed.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Child and Adolescent Health, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: Julie A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Mytton
authors.forename: Elizabeth M L
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Towner
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Powell
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Pilkington
authors.forename: Selena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gray
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D002423:Cause of Death / Q000639:trends; D002648:Child; D046688:Child Mortality; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019049:Developed Countries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003906:Developing Countries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019988:Children with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011050:Policy Making; D012307:Risk Factors; D018571:Sentinel Surveillance; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control*