Injuries to preschool-age children in day-care centers. A retrospective record review
N. L. Leland, J. Garrard and D. K. Smith
Maternal and Child Health Major, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455.
OBJECTIVES--To increase our understanding of the epidemiologic nature of
injuries to children in day-care settings by examining injury logs and to
determine appropriate methods for calculating injury rates.
DESIGN--Retrospective, with data collected through a review of 1 year's
records. SETTING--Four suburban day-care centers in the upper Midwest.
PARTICIPANTS--Five hundred twenty-seven preschool-age children, 275 of whom
experienced one or more injuries during the study period. SELECTION
PROCEDURE--Convenience sample. MEASUREMENTS/RESULTS--Injury rates were
calculated based on the number of hours spent in day care in the study
year. More than 1000 injuries were reported for 527 children. Injury rates
ranged from 0.006 to 0.049 per child per standardized 8-hour day in a
day-care center (or six to 49 injuries per 1000 children per 8 hours of
exposure). However, most injuries were minor, and none resulted in a
fatality or hospital admission. Using this method, injury rates were
examined by gender and month. CONCLUSIONS--Future research should determine
exposure time based on the actual number of hours a child spends in
attendance to determine injury rates. Exposure time should also be
carefully considered in determining product- and location-specific rates of
injury.
