PREVALENCE OF DOMESTIC UNINTENTIONAL INJURIES IN INFANTS

Introduction: Unintentional injuries are the first cause of morbi-mortality in infants. In order to implement preventive measures, prevalence and risk factors must be evaluated. Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of domestic unintentional injuries in children between 0 - 4 years of age admitted to La Union Health Care Center between September 2012 and January 2013. Method: A cross sectional study was undertaken. A survey was distributed to parents of children between the ages of 0-4 at the Health Care Center’s waiting room. The aspects evaluated were home/cradle safety, child game, transportation and child supervision. Results: Ninety surveys were answered. In children younger than 1 year old, the prevalence of unintentional injuries was 18% and the main injuries were because of falls (100%). In the age group of 1-4, the prevalence of unintentional injuries was 24%. The most affected aspects were home/cradle and the transportation safety. Conclusion: The prevalence of domestic unintentional injuries is high among children between 0-4 years old. It seems important to implement strategies such as education programs for the community in order to prevent future domestic accidents and injuries, and work particularly upon the areas home/cradle and transportation safety.