BACKGROUND: There is little research on the prevalence and characteristics of home and recreational injuries in infants under 12months of age. However, domestic accidents result in an average of 50 infant deaths in France every year.
METHODS: A descriptive and retrospective study was conducted, based on data from the permanent investigation on home and recreational injuries in infants under 12months of age (EPAC) published by the Institute for Public Health. Data were collected from 2004 to 2013 in the pediatric emergency department of Le Havre hospital. A global quantitative analysis was carried out, as well as age-group-based analyses (groups of infants of similar age within a specific range of 3months of age).
RESULTS: A total of 3708 infants under 1year of age were victims of home and recreational injuries. The incidence of domestic accidents was found to be an average of one case per day (gender ratio, 1.12). Up to 85% of reported injuries were found to occur in the home. Falls were the leading cause of home accidents or injuries (73% of the total number of reported accidents), 7% of which resulted from a fall from stairs. Children frequently suffered from concussion or contusions (65%). The neck and head were affected in 73% of cases. A higher proportion of foreign body injuries occurred after 6months of age (RR=2.9, p<0.001). The number of hospitalizations decreased with age: 21% of accidents occurred before 3 months of age; 7% occurred between 9 and 11 months of age (RR=0.32, p<0.001). Falling from a changing table accounted for 9% of fall-related hospitalizations.
CONCLUSIONS: This survey characterized for the first time the occurrence of home and recreational injuries in infants under 12months of age in France.