title: Workplace injuries in Fiji: a population-based study (TRIP 7).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Workplace injury rates in low and middle-income countries are known to be high. Contemporary data on this topic from Pacific Island countries and territories are scant.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the epidemiology of fatal and hospitalized workplace injuries in Fiji using a population-based trauma registry.
  
  
  METHODS
  An analysis of data from a prospective population-based surveillance registry investigated the characteristics associated with workplace injuries resulting in death or hospital admission among people aged 15 years and older in Viti Levu, the largest island in the Republic of Fiji, from October 2005 to September 2006. Incidence rates were calculated using denominator data from the 2004-05 Fiji Employment Survey.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and eighty-nine individuals met the study eligibility criteria (including nine deaths). This corresponded to annual injury-related hospitalization and death rates of 73.4 and 3.7 per 100&emsp14;000 workers, respectively. Males accounted for 95% of injuries, and hospitalization rates were highest among those aged 15-29 years (33 per 100&emsp14;000 workers). Fijian and Indian workers had similar rates of admission to hospital (38.3 and 31.8 per 100&emsp14;000 workers, respectively). Fractures (40%) and 'cuts/bites/open wounds' (32%) were the commonest types of injury while 'being hit by a person or object' (34%), falls (27%) and 'cutting or piercing' injuries (27%) were the commonest mechanisms. Overall, 7% of injuries were deemed intentional.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acknowledging the likely underestimation of the overall burden of workplace injuries, these findings support the need to identify context-specific risk factors and effective approaches to preventing workplace injuries in Fiji.
authors.affiliation: Section of Audiology, School of Population Health, University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New Zealand. r.reddy@auckland.ac.nz
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kafoa
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Wainiqolo
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kool
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gentles
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: McCaig
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ameratunga
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D005260:Female; D005367:Fiji / Q000453:epidemiology; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D060051:Occupational Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Accidents; Fiji; epidemiological surveillance; workplace.
references.citation: Injury. 2013 Jan;44(1):126-31
references.pmid: 22098715
references.citation: J Safety Res. 2009;40(2):125-39
references.pmid: 19433205
references.citation: Am J Ind Med. 2005 Dec;48(6):470-81
references.pmid: 16299709
references.citation: J Safety Res. 2004;35(5):513-21
references.pmid: 15530925
references.citation: Toxicology. 2004 May 20;198(1-3):63-74
references.pmid: 15138031