Citation

Ariff KM, Schattner P. Med. J. Malaysia 1998; 53(1): 82-86.

Affiliation

Department of Community Medicine and General Practice, Monash University, Melbourne.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1998, Malaysian Medical Association)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

10968143

Abstract

A survey of domestic childhood accidental injuries was conducted at a rural general practice in Arau, Perlis. Data was collected from parents or other caregivers of 171 children, aged 12 years and below, using a pretested questionnaire. Male children between the ages of 6 and 12 years were the most common group affected, with a male to female ratio of 1.7:1. The three most common accidents were injuries from falls (28%), cuts, lacerations, bruises and puncture wounds not resulting from falls (26%), and thermal injuries (22%). The most commonly affected parts of the body were the limbs. Most injuries to children between ages 4 to 12 years occurred in the house compounds, while those to children below 4 years occurred in the kitchen and other locations within the house. Major contributing factors to the injuries were the existence of unsafe home environments, the risk taking activities of the children, the presence of hazardous products in the household and unrealistic parental attitudes to injury prevention.

Language: en