Injury and its correlates among 1-year-old children. Study of children with both normal and low birth weights
M. C. McCormick, S. Shapiro and B. H. Starfield
Factors associated with injury in the first year of life were examined
using data on a random sample of infants in eight regions in the United
States. By 1 year of age, 8.6% of the 4,989 infants surveyed had had an
injury for which medical care was sought, although serious sequelae (eg,
death and developmental delay) were infrequent. The data suggest that the
achievement of independent mobility, eg, walking, was a major factor in the
risk of injury. Other risk factors included very young mothers and isolated
mothers, but not socioeconomic status, illness in the infant, or low birth
weight. However, identification of small groups at very high risk is not
possible, so that health professionals should be prepared to counsel all
new parents early about injuries.
