Childhood injuries in Jamaica - abstract

ABSTRACT

Childhood (age < 10 years) injuries were the reason for 225 emergency admissions to the Bustamante Hospital for Children and the University Hospital of the West Indies over a six week period ending June 30, 1996. Intentional injuries numbered 21 (9.3 percent) and unintentional injuries 204 (90.7 percent). Male/Female distribution was 143 (63.5 percent) and 82 (36.5percent). The average age of patients was 4.9 years. Falls, burns and motor vehicle accidents were the common causes of injuries resulting in 125 (55.5 percent), 19 (8.4 percent) and 17 (7.5 percent) admissions respectively. Bony, head and soft tissue injuries numbered 79 (35 percent), 63 (28 percent) and 35 ( 15.5 percent) respectively. Injury severity was graded according to the Tepas trauma score with severe injuries receiving grade 8 and lower. These totalled 22 affecting head (9), bone (8), and multiple sites (5). There were two deaths a severe head injury (Tepas score 5) and a case of 35 percent flame burns. (AU)