A Review of Epidemiology of Unintentional Injuries among Children in India Joseph Alex1,*, Kumar Dhasarathi2, Edward King David2 1Assistant Professor, School of Public Health, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 2Research Assistant, School of Public Health, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, Tamil Nadu *Corresponding Author: Dr. Alex Joseph, Assistant Professor, School of Public Health, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 603203, Email- alexjosephdr@gmail.com
Online published on 8 March, 2019. Abstract Childhood injury is a major public health problem which requires immediate attention. According to the estimates of WHO, Injuries are of higher health concern in every country causing over 3.8 million deaths per year where Unintentional injuries account for almost 90% of these cases in Lower and middle income countries. Every year, approximately 875, 000 children are killed and nonfatal injuries affect the lives of 10 to 30 million globally. In India, the mortality rate related to injuries among under-5 children is contributing to 5.9% of the total deaths. The objective of this study is to estimate the magnitude and prevalence of Unintentional injury distribution & pattern among children of 1–18 years of age in India. A thorough search was done using PUBMED, BMC PUBLIC HEALTH, IJPH, BMJ PAEDIATRICS and finally narrowing down to Pub Med where the articles published for the last ten years were extracted. The studies revealed that RTI, Burns, Falls, Drowning & Bites were the common causes and where meagre knowledge associated to the given injuries were significant influence to the pattern of Injury occurrence. Distribution & pattern of injury, including the health-seeking behaviour seemed to vary across both in Rural and Urban settings. Poor perception of injury was a common indicator of prevalence. Strategies on prevention and education still need improvisation. 90% of childhood injuries were both predictable and preventable. Unintentional injuries account for both the functional and financial healthcare burden on population under unintentional injury. Top Keywords Used Injury in India, Unintentional injuries in India, Childhood injury in India, Childhood and Injuries. Top |