Accidents in childhood

Abstract

The aim of this study is to know the epidemiologic characteristics of accidents in our environment. So, we have carried out a retrospective review of the accidents attended to Emergency Service of Clinic Hospital in Valladolid in 1986, 1987, and the first six months of 1988. We have also completed this study with a prospective interview among the emergencies attended in november and december 1988 and january 1989. Accidents are 19.2 % of on pediatric emergencies, being traumas from different origin the most remarkable group (84.3 %), especially by falls (25.6 %); among home accidents, we point out poisonings (4.2 %) and burns (4.4 %). The peak of incidence is located between 13 and 21 hours, on saturdays and in males (p < 0.05) of school-ages (p < 0.01). The most frequent place for the accident are the school in traumatisms and kitchen in home accidents. We didn't find any difference in family characteristics, socio-economic background and kind of house, but we do in father's habits (tobacco-alcohol p < 0.05) and in school capacity and adaptation (p < 0.01).