title: Unintentional, paediatric domestic injury in a semi rural area of Karachi.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify the characteristics of unintentional domestic injury in children living in a semi-rural area of Karachi.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective descriptive study was carried out at a private hospital located at the northern outskirts of Karachi, Pakistan, from January 2005 to January 2007. We enrolled 271 out-patient children of either gender with a positive injury history. A questionnaire inquiring socio-demographic characteristics, timing of injury, monthly variation, injury pattern and factors was filled out. Descriptive analysis and Chi-square test were applied to find out the statistically significant differences.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 271 patients, the male-to-female ratio was 1.2:1. Fall from height 145 (54%) or at the same level 52 (19%) was the commonest form of domestic unintentional injury across all ages. Children younger than 2 years of age, 140 (52%), were more prone to injuries, with 49 (51%) having fallen from the lap. Cuts with sharp domestic utensils were noted in 19 (6%), while 15 (6%) had burns. Submersion in underwater tank was noted in 20 (7%) cases and poisoning in 7 (3%). Majority of the injured children were from the low socio-economic stratum and more injuries, 194 (72%), were reported during the summer months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Male children are more prone to suffer unintentional domestic injuries especially during summer vacations. Fall was the commonest pattern noted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi. emaduddin.siddiqui@aku.edu
authors.forename: Emad-Uddin
authors.initials: EU
authors.lastname: Siddiqui
authors.forename: Kiran
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ejaz
authors.forename: Uzma
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Siddiqui
mesh_terms: D000061:Accidents, Home / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D016304:Hospitals, Private; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012621:Seasons; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires