L M Williamson1, A Morrison, D H Stone. 1. Paediatric Epidemiology and Community Health (PEACH) Unit, Department of Child Health, University of Glasgow, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Yorkhill, Glasgow G3 8SJ, UK.
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVE: To examine the trends in childhood head injury mortality in Scotland between 1986 and 1995. DESIGN: Analysis of routine mortality data from the registrar general for Scotland. SETTING: Scotland, UK. SUBJECTS: Children aged 0-14 years. MAIN RESULTS: A total of 290 children in Scotland died as a result of a head injury between 1986 and 1995. While there was a significant decline in the head injury mortality rate, head injury as a proportion of all injury fatalities remained relatively stable. Boys, and children residing in relatively less affluent areas had the highest head injury mortality rates. Although both these groups experienced a significant decline over the study period, the mortality differences between children in deprivation categories 1-2 and 6-7 persisted among 0-9 year olds, and increased in the 10-14 years age group. Pedestrian accidents were the leading cause of mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Children residing in less affluent areas seem to be at relatively greater risk of sustaining a fatal head injury than their more affluent counterparts. While the differences between the most and least affluent have decreased overall, they have widened among 10-14 year olds. The decline in head injury mortality as a result of pedestrian accidents may be partly attributable to injury prevention measures.
STUDY OBJECTIVE: To examine the trends in childhood head injury mortality in Scotland between 1986 and 1995. DESIGN: Analysis of routine mortality data from the registrar general for Scotland. SETTING: Scotland, UK. SUBJECTS:Children aged 0-14 years. MAIN RESULTS: A total of 290 children in Scotland died as a result of a head injury between 1986 and 1995. While there was a significant decline in the head injury mortality rate, head injury as a proportion of all injury fatalities remained relatively stable. Boys, and children residing in relatively less affluent areas had the highest head injury mortality rates. Although both these groups experienced a significant decline over the study period, the mortality differences between children in deprivation categories 1-2 and 6-7 persisted among 0-9 year olds, and increased in the 10-14 years age group. Pedestrian accidents were the leading cause of mortality. CONCLUSIONS:Children residing in less affluent areas seem to be at relatively greater risk of sustaining a fatal head injury than their more affluent counterparts. While the differences between the most and least affluent have decreased overall, they have widened among 10-14 year olds. The decline in head injury mortality as a result of pedestrian accidents may be partly attributable to injury prevention measures.
Authors: Denise Kendrick; Asiya Maula; Jane Stewart; Rose Clacy; Frank Coffey; Nicola Cooper; Carol Coupland; Mike Hayes; Elaine McColl; Richard Reading; Alex Sutton; Elizabeth M L Towner; Michael Craig Watson Journal: Inj Prev Date: 2012-06 Impact factor: 2.399