PATTERNS OF CHILD INJURY AT A TERTIARY-LEVEL HOSPITAL IN KENYA

Abstract

Background: Child injury is a major public health problem globally,
contributing significantly to morbidity and mortality.
Objective: To evaluate the patterns of injury among children aged 14 years and below.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was done at Moi Teaching and Referral
Hospital (MTRH), Eldoret, Kenya, that enrolled 313 children aged 14 years and below, who presented with injuries. Data on socio-demographic characteristics, types and mechanisms of injury, parents’/guardians’ knowledge on, attitude towards, and utilization of, preventive measures of child injury, was collected and analyzed.
Results: Ninety eight (31.1%) children with injuries were infants/toddlers and 84 (26.8%) were preschoolers. Their male to female ratio was 1.7:1.
Unintentional child injuries (UCI) were 308 (98.4%). The mechanisms of child injuries were: falls, 168 (53.7%); burns, 60 (19.2%); and road traffic injuries (RTIs), 36 (11.5%). Most injuries occurred at home (237; 75.7%). By demography, burns were common among 1 - 4 years (44; 73.3%), falls among 5 – 9 years (79; 47.0%), and RTIs among 5 - 9 years (20; 55.6%). The majority of their parents/guardians had positive attitude towards, and utilized, preventive measures of child injury.
Conclusions: Child injuries were majorly unintentional; predominantly
affected infants/toddlers; and occurred at home in the absence of
parents/guardians. We recommend that strategies on preventing child injuries should focus more on unintentional injuries, mainly falls, burns, and RTIs.