Socioeconomic differences in injury risks in childhood and adolescence: a nation-wide study of intentional and unintentional injuries in Sweden

Abstract

Study objective:To measure socioeconomic differences in injuries among different age groups of children and adolescents.Subjects:Children under 20 living in Sweden between 1990 and 1994 (about 2.6 million).Method:A cross sectional study based on record linkage between 15 Swedish national registers. Children were divided into four age groups and allocated to four household socioeconomic status groups. Absolute and relative risks were compiled using children of high/intermediate level salaried employees as the comparison group. Four diagnostic groups were considered: fall, traffic, interpersonal violence, and self inflicted injuries.Results:Injury incidences were relatively low and socioeconomic differences negligible in the 0–4 year olds. Thereafter, significant socioeconomic differences were observed in all diagnostic groups except falls. The highest absolute differences were in traffic injuries, especially among 15–19 year olds, and in self inflicted injuries among 15–19 year old girls. Relative differences were highest in both categories of intentional injuries for the age group 10–14. Social circumstances in the household other than family socioeconomic status affected the social pattern of intentional but not that of unintentional injuries.Conclusions:Socioeconomic differences in injury risks are not necessarily constant over age. Inequalities are particularly high in absolute terms among adolescents 15–19 years old for traffic injuries and in relative terms among 10–14 year olds for intentional injuries.

Unintentional injuries in the home environment: home safety

“…Entretanto, em populações que possuem baixa desigualdade, bem como nas de fortes diferenças sociais, as mudanças tendem a ocorrer com menor velocidade 33 . A influência da desigualdade, entretanto, ocorre com maior intensidade sobre as injúrias intencionais 34 . Entretanto, em estudo realizado em Pelotas (RS) entre pré-escolares, renda familiar, escolaridade dos pais e trabalho materno não se associaram à ocorrência de injúrias 35 .…”

As injúrias não intencionais no ambiente domiciliar: a casa segura

“…33 The influence of inequality, however, is stronger over intentional injuries. 34 Nevertheless, in a study conducted with preschool children in Pelotas, state of Rio Grande do Sul, in southern Brazil, family income, parental education and maternal work were not correlated with the occurrence of injuries. 35 Another aspect to be considered is the adoption of safe behaviors, which may explain the smaller occurrence of injuries in some families.…”

Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Adli Tıp Anabilim Dalı Tarafından Değerlendirilen 155 Çocuk Hasta

“…Olgular; dosya içindeki yak›nmalar›, öyküleri, fizik muayene bulgular›, adli rapor istem yaz›lar› ve anabilim dal›m›zda yap›lan muayeneleri ile literatürler dikkate al›-narak kas›tl› olmayan (kaza), kas›tl› eylem ve di¤er olmak üzere üç gruba ayr›ld› (8,9). Kazalar, trafik kazalar› ve di¤er kazalar (yüksekten düflme, ifl kazalar›, künt cisimlerle olan kazalar vb.)…”

“…Ülkemizde yap›lan birkaç çal›flmada intihar giriflimlerinde as›, ateflli silah ve entoksikasyonun en s›k ölüm nedenleri oldu¤u belirtilmifltir (12,17). Ço-cukluk ça¤› yaralanmalar› ile sosyoekonomik durumun de¤erlendirildi¤i bir çal›flmada özellikle 15-19 yafl grubu k›z çocuklarda kendine zarar verme biçimindeki yaralanmalar›n s›k oldu¤u gösterilmifltir (8). Çal›flmam›zda intihar giriflimi olgular›n›n ikisinin k›z oldu¤u, 15 ve 16 yafllar›nda olduklar› ve birisinin ilaç di¤erinin ise koroziv madde içti¤i belirlendi.…”

“…Adolesan yafl grubu hastalar›m›zda kas›tl› eylemlere ba¤l› yaralanmalar›n kas›tl› olmayanlardan daha fazla gö-rüldü¤ü, bu bulgunun ülkemizde ve di¤er ülkelerde yap›-lan çal›flmalarla uyumlu bulundu¤u belirlendi (8,12,18). Bu olgulardaki yaralanmalar›n kesici delici alet, künt travma ve ateflli silah ile oldu¤u gözlendi.…”