Agent and nature of childhood injury and initial care provided at the community level in Ibadan, Nigeria.

Daily home interviews-examinations were carried out for a period of three months to obtain information on the agent (object) involved, nature (diagnosis) and care provided to children aged zero to 19 years, following accidental injury, in Idikan community, Ibadan. During the study period, 1286 injuries were recorded involving all the 436 children in the study community. Rocky outcrops, chairs, broken bottles, tables, knives and glasses were the major agents of injuries (91.0%). Puncture wounds, lacerations, haematomas, sprains and dislocations constituted most of the nature of injury (96.5%). All injuries were minor injuries (AIS = 1). Relatives-neighbours were responsible for managing majority of the injuries. Only seven (0.6%) injuries were seen by a nurse-physician in a health facility. Specific individual-community health education as well as health service and environmental modification measures are suggested. This study has also shown that community based data on injury provides more precise information required for the development of injury prevention and care programmes at the primary care level.