OBJECTIVES: To assess differentials in the poisoning rates of children aged 0-4 years according to residential location and geographical remoteness. DESIGN: Cross sectional study based on hospitalizations. SETTING: Australia. SUBJECTS: Children aged 0-4 years admitted to hospital due to poisoning during the financial year 1996-97. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Crude rates of hospitalization. RESULTS: The rate of hospitalization due to poisoning peaked in the third year and second year of life for medicinal and non-medicinal substances respectively. Rates were significantly higher among children aged 0-4 years residing in rural and remote areas when compared with those residing in metropolitan areas, and rate differentials increased with geographical remoteness. CONCLUSIONS: The observed differentials suggest the need for targeted research and prevention efforts aimed at rural and remote area communities. A detailed empirical study is recommended, involving the assessment of risk factors and an in-home hazard checklist, as a precursor to any intervention program.
OBJECTIVES: To assess differentials in the poisoning rates of children aged 0-4 years according to residential location and geographical remoteness. DESIGN: Cross sectional study based on hospitalizations. SETTING: Australia. SUBJECTS:Children aged 0-4 years admitted to hospital due to poisoning during the financial year 1996-97. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Crude rates of hospitalization. RESULTS: The rate of hospitalization due to poisoning peaked in the third year and second year of life for medicinal and non-medicinal substances respectively. Rates were significantly higher among children aged 0-4 years residing in rural and remote areas when compared with those residing in metropolitan areas, and rate differentials increased with geographical remoteness. CONCLUSIONS: The observed differentials suggest the need for targeted research and prevention efforts aimed at rural and remote area communities. A detailed empirical study is recommended, involving the assessment of risk factors and an in-home hazard checklist, as a precursor to any intervention program.
Authors: Sonya M S Azab; Jon Mark Hirshon; John Mark Hirshon; Bryan D Hayes; Maged El-Setouhy; Gordon S Smith; Mahmoud Lotfy Sakr; Hany Tawfik; Wendy Klein-Schwartz Journal: Clin Toxicol (Phila) Date: 2016 Impact factor: 4.467