Gemeinschaftsmedizin und Gesundheitserziehung

Abstrakt

Mothers Reporting on Nonfatal Child Injuries and the Association to Physical Punishment and Child Labor: A Household Survey

Galal SB, Hamad S, Elbelbasy R, Al-Sayed Z and Galal MO

Introduction: Serious injuries can be accessed in hospitals or surveillance data, while mild injuries are to a great extend available from community or household surveys. Nonfatal injuries may become a cause for disability and psychological disturbance in childhood. There are only few studies addressing the risk of physical punishment or child labor on child injuries.

Objectives: The main objectives of the study were to estimate serious and mild injuries in children aged 0 to 15 years reported by their mothers within the last six months and to estimate the risk of punishment and child labor.

Method: A household survey with a cluster sample of 1192 interviewed mothers was undertaken in an urban district and two villages. Children aged 0-15 were included in the study. The classification of injuries was assessed according to Manciaux and Romer layperson reporting.

Results and conclusion: Over 25% of children aged 0-15 years had had injury within last six month. Half of the injuries were serious and the other half were mild. Children from urban communities tended to be more prone to injury than rural regions. Additionally, boys tended to have significantly more injuries than girls. Fractures were found to be more common in boys than in girls, while burns and poisoning were common for girls than boys. Child labor and physical punishment are risk factors for injuries.