Unintentional injuries. Risk factors in preschool children
C. C. Bourguet and R. E. McArtor
Division of Community Health Sciences, Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine, Rootstown, OH 44272.
Successful strategies for preventing childhood injuries require better
understanding of injury epidemiology. A case-control study was designed to
identify risk factors for injury among preschool patients of a
university-affiliated, community-based family practice center. Thirty-four
children who were injured during a 1-year period and 36 age- and
sex-matched controls were included. A description of the injury incident
and data from each child's medical record and a parent interview were
recorded. All injuries were relatively minor. The following were associated
with increased injury risk: a history of a chronic medical condition;
weight in the lowest 25th percentile of the national distribution; birth
order of third or later in the family; maternal education higher than the
high school level; and, possibly, a history of previous injury.
