Risk and protective factors for falls on one level in young children: multicentre case-control study.
BACKGROUND
Childhood falls are an important global public health problem, but there is lack of evidence about their prevention. Falls on one level result in considerable morbidity and they are costly to health services.


OBJECTIVE
To estimate ORs for falls on one level in children aged 0-4 years for a range of safety behaviours, safety equipment use and home hazards.


METHODS
Multicentre case-control study at hospitals, minor injury units and general practices in and around four UK study centres. Participants included 582 children less than 5 years of age with a medically attended fall injury occurring at home and 2460 controls matched on age, sex, calendar time and study centre.


METHODS
Fall on one level.


RESULTS
Cases' most common injuries were bangs on the head (52%), cuts or grazes not needing stitches (29%) or cuts or grazes needing stitches (17%). Comparing cases to community controls in the adjusted analyses, significant findings were observed for only two exposures. Injured children were significantly less likely to live in a household without furniture corner covers (adjusted OR (AOR) 0.72, 95% CI 0.55 to 0.95), or without rugs and carpets firmly fixed to the floor (AOR 0.76, 95% CI 0.59 to 0.98).


CONCLUSIONS
We did not find any safety practices, use of safety equipment or home hazards associated with a reduced risk of fall on one level. Our findings do not provide evidence to support changes to current injury prevention practice.
Division of Primary Care, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
P
P
Benford
Division of Primary Care, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
B
B
Young
Division of Primary Care, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
C
C
Coupland
School of Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, D86, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, UK.
M
M
Watson
Institute of Health & Society, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
P
P
Hindmarch
Child Accident Prevention Trust, London, UK.
M
M
Hayes
Centre for Child & Adolescent Health, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK.
T
T
Goodenough
Jenny Lind Paediatric Department, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, Norwich, UK.
G
G
Majsak-Newman
Division of Primary Care, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
D
D
Kendrick
D000056:Accident Prevention / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000061:Accidents, Home / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D065840:Protective Factors; D012307:Risk Factors; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
Risk/Determinants