bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessment of road safety in areas around primary and secondary schools in Shkodra, north city of Albania
Authors: Bozo M , Qirjako G , Toi E , Canaku D , Hysa E , Amursi E
Published: March 2011

Background

Road traffic accidents have increased significantly in Albania since the early 1990s, when the transition to the market economy took place. Schoolchildren are continuously exposed to an extremely high risk of road traffic accidents.

Aim

The aim of the study was to perform a baseline assessment of road safety in areas around primary and secondary schools in Shkodra, a north city of Albania.

Methods

The study was conducted in Shkodra district with the main focus on four schools from urban, informal and rural areas. A qualitative survey included focus groups with schoolchildren.

Results

Overall, there were conducted four focus groups (54 schoolchildren) from 7 to 15 years old. We found that the level of road safety elements near the targeted school areas was quite poor and the schoolchildren faced huge problems and difficulties during their way for school. There is a lack of road signals and traffic lights. The most of the schoolchildren felt unsure in their way for school, especially they from urban areas. During the cycling, their level of helmet use was very low. Another important concern reported from schoolchildren was the lack of the sidewalks, increasing the risk for a road accident.

Conclusion

Our study concluded that there is an urgent need for increasing the road safety elements across Shkodra roads. Immediate actions should be undertaken by local authorities, schools and community for improving the situation.
Healthy municipalities, safe communities
Authors: de Hoyos G , Ungaro J
Published: March 2011

Introduction

The Healthy Municipalities, Cities and Communities Network (HMCCN) have had great growth in Argentina during the last 3 years as the National Health Ministry decided to increase support and change strategy. HMCCN approach is very similar to that of Safe Communities', as peoples participation, intersectorial activities and capacity building are key points in both of them.

Objective

To describe the experience of promoting the strategy of Safe Communities along with developing the HMCCN in Argentina.

Materials and Methods

A Trauma Prevention and Control Program is being developed in Neuquen in Argentine Patagonia since year 2000. It is based on surveillance, health and safety promotion and community local planning. Three years ago, an integration process with the HMCCN took place as a provincial representative was included for first time in the network. Since then, the Safe Communities strategy has been presented in every opportunity in each municipality member of HMCCN in Neuquen, in order to encourage them to promote and prioritise safety among healthy public policies.

Results

Community projects and actions were designed and executed. Some of them were chosen to be financed by the Health Ministry through the HMCCN. The need to assess local epidemiology caused the implementation and/or reactivation of Injuries Sentinel Units in some of these communities.

Discussion and Conclusions

The strategy of integrating the Safe Communities approach to the already existing and recently strengthened HMCCN could be a suitable way to encourage communities safety promotion in Argentina and probably in Latin America.
Disaster management in University Libraries: perception, problems and strategies
Authors: Echezona R I , Ugwu C I , Ozioko R E
Published: March 2011

The paper investigated disaster management in University Libraries in South Eastern Nigeria; perceptions, problems and strategies. The design of the study was a descriptive survey. The population of the study consisted of librarians from university libraries in Southern Nigeria. Eighty-six librarians were sampled from the total of 265 librarians. Three research questions guided the study. Data for the study were collected using questionnaire which was validated through expert opinion. Data generated for the study were analysed using some descriptive statistics of percentages, mean and SD. It was discovered that perceptions of librarians vary on disaster management. Some of the problems encountered in disaster management include lack of adequate facilities, inadequate fund allocation to libraries and lack of interest on the part of some librarians on disaster management issues. The paper identified strategies for effective disaster management in university libraries in South Eastern Nigeria. These strategies include development of disaster preparedness plan, vulnerability analysis and risk assessment should be conducted to evaluate the types of emergencies that might affect library collection, personnel and building; backing up library websites regularly, staff training and raising awareness of the need to protect document from disaster. It was recommended that modern facilities to avert disaster should be provided for government. Training of librarians and other staff on disaster control and prevention should be carried out as well as adequate funding of the libraries by the government.
Accessing local Government support for assessing the safety of homes in Paranaque city
Authors: Perez M T A , Consunji R , Rolloque A , Alcantara M
Published: March 2011

The study was conducted in a city south of Manila, Philippines with a .5M population. The local government of Paranaque City, especially the City Health Office lent to Safe Kids Philippines (SKP) support in reaching out to all 16 barangays (villages) to assess the safety of the homes in the lower income communities using the Home Safety Assessment Tool of SKP designed to determine injuries and risks to children at home. Objectives included identifying risks and injuries, commonly overlooked safety practices and precautions in different parts of the house, and collecting basic data on knowledge, practices and attitudes of Filipino households in the prevention of unintentional injury. Health workers were then fielded to the health centers where mothers who were having their children inoculated were interviewed regarding conditions in their homes. Home visits to 10% of 2000 respondents were conducted to validate the answers to the surveys. Based on location and type of injury, results created a profile where households experienced the following injuries within the previous year: 38% falls, 19% cuts, 17% scalds and burns, 15% animal bites, 7% foreign body insertions and choking at 5%. These injuries happened in the following parts of the house: 34% just outside the house, 24% in the living room, 15% in the kitchen, 8% bathroom, 10% bedroom and 9% in the laundry area. Results were submitted to the local government who has adapted the tool and applied this to more respondents. Results are now being used.
Community safety from hazardous industry at rural area in Thailand
Authors: Karnjanakantorn W
Published: March 2011

Background

There are many industrial factories in developing country, for example, Thailand. The industrial waste has become a crucial problem.

Aim

To study the effect of hazardous, non-hazardous landfill that cause health symptoms and use Geographic Information System to mapping the data.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted during 2007 among sampling four districts total 200 households and Geographic Information System. A total of 200 people participated in the study (44 males, 156 females)compare with 165 employees. Results showed that average age was 46.6+15 years old. 3117 years live in this province, 92% work near their house, for example, farmer. The report of smell odour was 170 households (85%), 90% first time in 2005. Type of odour was decay 28.8%, irritant 21.8%. There were 138 people (81.2%) had symptoms, for example, eye/nose-irritant, headache, dizziness and 20% went to see the doctor. The most common diagnosis was allergic rhinitis 45% and 138 households (82.8%) consume water from rain, surface water, groundwater. We use GIS to identify the household that had odour problem. We found the households near the landfill (factory 1) had odour problem more than the sugar factory (factory 2). For the periodic examination of employees, we found all employees were healthy. In conclusion, this study shows that landfill is necessary and has less health effect of their employees but we need to monitor and surveillance quality of life in the community.
Epidemiology of child drowning injury in the Philippines
Authors: Antonio C A T , Consunji R J
Published: March 2011

A review and analysis of 40-years data on drowning injury (1963–2003) was conducted for this paper. On the average, at least 3000 Filipinos of all ages die annually from drowning injury (0.43% of deaths for all age groups), more than a third (35.6%) affect children under 14 years (3.2% of deaths among children 0–14 years). Mortality is highest among children ages 1–4 years compared to other age groups (Mortality Rate (MR) per 100 000=6.4), and among males compared to females for all age groups (MR 5.6). Drowning outranks traditional causes of child mortality (eg, meningitis, septicemia, malnutrition, tuberculosis and pneumonia), and will place 6th, 3rd and 2nd leading cause of mortality for children ages 1–4, 5–9 and 10–14 years, respectively. Through the study period, drowning mortality have remained largely unchanged, belying its under-recognition as a public health priority (MR1963=3.83; MR2003=3.48). The findings presented in this paper constitute only cases of reported fatal drowning, hence, these figures are to be taken as the minimum fatal drowning rates for the Philippines. There is also a paucity of local data on the circumstances surrounding drowning incidents, precluding identification of determinants, and consequently, the design of policies to address the burden of drowning in the country. These will be the subject of a subsequent report of Safe Kids Philippines, the Philippine Lifesaving Society, the Department of Health and the World Health Organisation.
Study on product-related injury surveillance in six hospitals in China
Authors: Deng X , Duan L , Wu C
Published: March 2011

Objectives

To explore a feasible product-related injury surveillance system that would be the foundation of a national system in the future, which can provide further information of product-related injury and basal data for injury prevention & consumer protection in China. To get primary information of product-related injury status in study fields.

Methods

Two sites including one city and one county were selected from the National Injury Surveillance System of China as pilot fields. The surveillance system was hospital-based. Patient information was collected from each of the six hospitals by doctor or nurse for every first-time emergency or outpatient visit involving an injury.

Results

Altogether, 63.43% of the total 3 9573 reported injury visits were related to at least one product. The main three kinds of products involved were road transport tools (25.52%), facilities in public places (23.45%) and housewares (21.82%). The major populations involved were aged 25–44 (42.86%), 20–24 (16.51%) and 45–64 (11.95%). The leading causes of injury were falls (31.36%), road traffic injuries (28.12%) and blunt injuries (20.08%). The most common natures of injury were bruise (41.94%), and sharp/bite/open injury (41.13).

Conclusion

Hospital-based product-related injury surveillance system is feasible in China. Insight investigation was suggested for the typical case, which is good for consumer safety protection. Effective measures and policies would be made to aim at youth and middle-aged adults and the main kinds of products.
Sanitary condition of life and children's health
Authors: Otgon G , Ganbold A
Published: March 2011

To develop of bronchitis and pneumonia of young aged childrens and diseases of cardiovascular system (CVS) and urinogenital system – of later aged childrens influenced sanitary conditions of life. In Mongolia had 541 149 family, lives in ger and houses – 50.9% and in apartment – 49.1%.

Aim

The aim of research is to reveal of possible risk factors, such as sanitary household conditions of life on disease of respiratory system (RS), CVS and urinogenital system among children of Mongolia.

Methods

Used accounting data of health of Ministry of Health of Mongolia and the Centre of Governmental Statistics. Statistical processing is made on regression analysis on the program SPSS 11.

Results of research

High risk for developing bronchitis and a pneumonia of children was residence in ger, absence of the centralised heating (p≤0.001) and impossibility of maintenance of optimum parameters of the microclimate (p≤0.005) and electrification (p≤0.02), kind of using fuel (p≤0.005), absence of the centralised removal of liquid waste (p≤0.004), absence of the electric power (p≤0.01) render system of removal of a withdrawal of residing, as removal on a garbage tank (p≤0.01). Increase of disease of urinogenital system of children on later age is connected with local heating (p≤0.0009) and transporting water supply system (p≤0.02).

Conclusion

Hygienic conditions of residing of the population of Mongolia cause risk of development diseases of RS, such as a pneumonia, a bronchitis. The most significant risk factors are: absence of central heating, the electric power, kind of used fuel for local heating.
Cell phone use while driving: the behavioural risk of injury in Thailand
Authors: Patara-archachai J , Srisawat K
Published: March 2011

In the globalisation era, the cell phones were commonly used for many purposes. Its advantages were to send email, SMS, MMS or connect to the internet every time they use. Therefore, it was not surprising that most people usually had at least one cell phone and tended to be accessible while driving on the road.

Objective

To determine behaviour of cell phone use during driving in relation to car accident.

Source of data

All complete data from national survey of cell phone while driving by the Road Safety Fund, Department of Land Transport, Ministry of Transport. There are 5347 samples who complete all questionnaire were analysed. Three behavioural and two risk reduction factors were analysed by logistic regression.

Result and discussion

The result showed that three behavioural risk factors obtained cell phone use more than 5 min each time, send-receive SMS/MMS/GPRS/email and Bluetooth/uncertainly used accessories were types of risk factors. Meanwhile, the risk reduction factors composed of do not reply when calling and use hands-free instead of hand-held. These distinct factors were clarified when compared with other researches.

Suggestions

The government should increase the law enforcement. The effective way was to campaign for awareness of people to realise the risk of injury that probably occurs any time and anywhere.
Medical students professional knowledge, opinions and experiences towards violence against women: example from three medical faculties in Turkey
Authors: Erbaydar N P , Cilingiroglu N , Caliskan D , Ozkan S
Published: March 2011

Aim

Information on medical students knowledge about violence against women (VAW) is inadequate in Turkey although VAW is quite common (39.5%). This study aimed to investigate experiences, professional knowledge and the opinions of third phase (TPS) and last phase (LPS) students of medical faculties concerning VAW.

Method

In this study, a questionnaire was administered to 543 (67.7%) TPS and 620 (68.3%) LPS.

Results

Males constituted 50.5% of TPS and 50.6% of LPS while average age was 21.21.3 and 24.31.4, respectively. Childhood violence exposure was 27.1% among TPS, 50.2% among LPS while 23.1% of TPS and 29.2% of LPS witnessed domestic violence sometime. Male students experienced more violence (p=0.04 for TPS; p=0.021 for LPS). There is no formal VAW training in study sites, and 35.5% LPS declared they received some training on VAW. Theoretical and practical knowledge on VAW is lacking for both phases. The most agreed perceptions on some faces of VAW of TPS and LPS are: woman's honour is important for me (76.8%, 70.0%), violence committed man are generally from low socioeconomic groups (59.3%, 50.6%), I would like to have firearm at home (43.8%, 42.2%), man who restored his honour could be sometimes right (25.7%, 25.8%).

Conclusion

In order to provide effective support to victims by physician, there is a need to add structured curriculum on VAW in undergraduate training.
Reflections on attendance the families of handicap people: limits and possibilities in the intervention of the social work
Authors: da Fonseca T M Arajo , de Azevedo T M Campos , Ximenes L
Published: March 2011

The familiar nucleus gained new contours in the process of social changes throughout the last years. The families arrive at the public services, with prominence in the services of health and patriarcais, extensive models, recompostas, monoparental, among others. Independent of its configuration, the family continues being the social institution that represents the first and important canal of initiation of the affection, the socialisation, the relations of learning and cares in health. It has that to understand the especificidades of the familiar dynamics of the nuclei that possess one of its members with deficiency in the health services. Questions related to the universe of the guarantee of rights. Historically, the handicap people had been kept out of society in the society and the public politics were come back toward the institutional segregation. After that the integration model was adopted and currently the inclusion concept is most recent and represents an attempt of advance how much to the question in what it refers to the construction of an accessible society for all, people with or without deficiency. To think about marginalizao in also sends them to the debate on the poverty in the health system since in the whole world, according to studies and research, the people with deficiency are between the poor of the poor persons, living lives of disadvantage and privation, living under the stigma of the double discrimination: of being handicap person and of being poor.
The mortality in traffic in Montenegro: the meaning of first aid in prevention of it
Authors: Pejakovic M , Pejakovic V , Utjesinovic J , Bogdanovic M , Pavlicic R , Tadic N , Knezevic V
Published: March 2011

There are about 230 000 drivers in Montenegro.

The most common reasons why the accidents happen are driving under the influence of alcohol, exhaustion, bad knowledge of the traffic rules and poor roads quality.

The aim of study is to show the mortality on roads in Montenegro and to suggest prevention measures.

Methods

Data about traffic accidents from 2004 to 2010 were collected and analysed from the Ministry of Internal Affairs Montenegro.

Results

12 913 persons were hurt in traffic accidents in Montenegro from 2004 to 2010.

From that amount 524 (4%) were killed.

Death rate = 14/100 000 persons.

The drivers consist 46% (239) of cases of the total number of those killed. Co-drivers consist about 34% (177) and pedestrians consist about 20% of the cases (108).

Death could be prevented in many cases in which people died before reaching a hospital. Basic first-aid training to groups, such as commercial vehicle drivers, who are most likely to be among the first at crash scenes, may be a more appropriate use of scarce resources.

As the first step in these activities the authors have created a first aid reference book. Doctors will perform the education with the help of the Red cross and similar organisations and provide knowledge to these active in traffic.

Conclusion

Tertiary measures of prevention bring to the decrease of mortality as well as to the weakening of the effects of the injuries in traffic.
Traffic accidents in Mexico: did the frequency and severity change from 2000 to 2007?
Authors: Restrepo H S S , Becerril L C , Lopez H R
Published: March 2011

Evaluation of the public health impact of road safety regulations, referred to as accountability research, is increasingly viewed as a necessary component of responsible governmental policy interventions. The authors present an example of accountability assessment based on evaluating change in the middle-term effect of fatal traffic accidents over a period of increasingly stringent regulation that might have changed the frequency and severity of this phenomenon. They used updated data of the National Institute of Geography and Informatics to estimate national frequency distribution and brute and average rates of the mortality by traffic accidents for 2000–2007.

The authors found strong evidence that mortality continue increasingly, particularly in a group of young women. They also found that on mortality declined after 2006 and this decline occurred mostly in eight states of Mexico. The methodology presented can be used to track the impact of an intervention routinely on regional and national scales.
Bringing down the number of road traffic injuries in the country using the pre- and post-tests of the Walk This Way of Safe Kids Philippines
Authors: Rolloque A C , Consunji R , Alcantara M , Perez M T A , Rolloque J
Published: March 2011

Objectives

To know the level of knowledge of the students who received road safety education after 6 months to a year after. Bring down the number of injuries.

Methods

Safe Kids Philippines used the standard pre- and post-test tools to students of elementary schools. The pretests were administered to students before their lesson on road safety which lasted for 45 min while post-tests were given after classroom teachings. The post-test is used to gauge the learning after classroom teachings. Questions of pre- and post-tests are the same but included in the post-test is an additional question on the respondents experience of road traffic injuries within the previous year.

Results

9975 and 9961 students responded to the pre- and post-tests, respectively. Delayed post-testing was done on a subset of 1577 students from the original group of 4616 students who were tested a year earlier. It showed that the lowest levels of baseline knowledge were in proper crossing behaviour (25%) and street sign identification. The largest gains were in the same areas with the lowest baseline knowledge (3–5.3 time improvements). Delayed post-testing of students who underwent the programme was after a year showed retained retention and an average of 2.8 more correct responses than immediate post-test results. Road traffic injuries went down to 9% from 36%.

Conclusions

A tool is needed to measure the effectiveness of road safety programme. Bringing down the road traffic injuries is possible using the right interventions.
Results of the pre, post and midyear tests of the Walk This Way Safe Kids Philippines
Authors: Rolloque A C , Consunji R , Alcantara M , Perez M T A , Rolloque J
Published: March 2011

Objectives

To know the level of knowledge of the students who received road safety education after 3 months in the urban city of the Philippines.

Methods

Safe Kids Philippines used the standard pre- and post-test tools to students of public elementary schools. The volunteers went to schools and administered the pretests to students before giving them a lesson regarding road safety which lasted for 45 min to 1 h, after these children administered the post-tests to examine if there is an increase on the knowledge of road safety. These data were tabulated. After 3 months the volunteers went back to these students without giving any classroom teachings or review on road safety education but just administer the midyear post-tests to know if the knowledge were retained.

Results

Based on the data gathered by Safe Kids Philippines it came out that children who attended the classroom teachings on road safety got a higher score in the post-tests after the classroom teachings comparing to their scores on the pretests. There was an increase of knowledge to 25–36% per question that were given to them. After 3 months, they administered the midyear post-tests, some of the students scores are still increasing but in a very low percentage of 1–10% increase of knowledge and some even decrease the level of knowledge.

Conclusions

It can be concluded that although there is an increase on the knowledge of road safety of the students after the administration of pre-, post- and midyear post-tests there is a need to reinforce the education to these children if we really want these children be safer on road injuries.
Challenges to injury control and safety in Africa
Authors: Solagberu B , El-Sayed H , Mtonga R , Nakitto M
Published: March 2011

Problem under study

There are limited achievements for injury control in Africa, despite the growing burden of injuries in the continent. This deterioration in the situation is mostly dues to demographic changes, population increases without commensurate infrastructure, failure to reach a critical mass of researchers, and poorly funded institutions working for injury control and safety promotion, which reflects the little national political support for these important issues.

Objectives

To showcase injury research and prevention successes and challenges in Africa.

To provide an African Injury Control marketplace where the following transactions can take place: exchange of funding information, sharing of proposals, recruitment of partners for new and on-going research and or intervention projects.

To develop strategies to attract more resources and researchers for injury control in Africa.

Methods and approach

–

Presentations of representatives of the different African regions for successes and challenges facing injury control in their regions.

–

Develop and discuss ideas for plans for future efforts for injury control and safety promotion in the continent.

–

Question/discuss.

–

Debate of proposed ideas.

Expected results

This round table will help in charting out plan to maximise the benefits from research already done, networks formed, and interventions executed or planned. Based on the present situation analysis new opportunities for forging ahead, and for maximising our pressure on policy makers will be captured and planned in the various African countries to promote the national and moreover continental programmes for injury control and safety promotion.
Arising the immune protection of the children drowned in Thailand
Authors: Ekchaloemkiet S , Gerdmongkolgan S , Siriphanich T
Published: March 2011

Rationale and background

Drowning is the leading cause of child mortality among Thai children under the age of 15 years old, with about 1500 children drowning each year. The children can swim was measured the immunisation of the anti-drowned children.

Objective

To drive Thai children to arose drowned immune protection.

Methodology

The study involved a comparison of two different swimming programmes with general swimming and survival swimming course. From the evaluation it was found that the group who studies the survival swimming course had more survival and rescuing skill than other group significant statistically. However, the significance of driving strategic plan was the participation of all involved parties that should produce the survival swimming curriculum. Additionally, the executives from all relevant agencies could also join and give out the advantages information and the different between those two types of swimming course.

Result

The executives has policy that Thai children must be immune protection drowned, and encouraged to sign an MOU with the relevant agencies to drive the immune protection drowned in Thai children by bringing survival swimming curriculum into the curriculum of elementary education level, while the budget support will be provided by the local administration.

Conclusion and recommendation

The successful driving procedure was every relevant agencies should participate from the beginning of project. Those agencies would join as their own project and it could be substantial later.
Mortality trends by poisoning in Mexico, 1981–2007
Authors: Davalos J , Baez L , Celis A
Published: March 2011

Objective

To examine trends in mortality from poisoning in Mexico and each of its federal states during the period from 1981 to 2007.

Methods

Mortalities and trends were estimated for the study period from Mexicos official data based on the International Classification of Diseases, 9th and 10th revisions. Results were analysed by age group, sex and year of death, as well as by state and size of city or town of residence. (Codes CIE-IX, E850-E869, E95-E962, E962, E972, E980-E982; CIE-X, X40-X49, X60-X69, X85-X90, Y10-Y19.)

Results

From 1981 to 2007 the Mexican health system registered 42 466 poisoning deaths. For the study period, mortality trend was descended: from 2.0–2.2 in 1981–1982 to 1.5 in 2005–2006, a 29% reduction. Before 1988, those under 1 years old were group with the highest mortality risk, with a rate around 8.5/100 000. In the following years this rate diminished dramatically to reach a rate lower that 1.0/100 000 by 2007. The rest of the population did not show this trend. Poisoning mortality was more frequent in male than in females, with a ratio of 1.95 to 1.

Conclusions

The rate of death caused by poisoning is decreasing; however it continues to be a significant public health problem. We need to take appropriate preventive measures based in pertinent scientific evidence.
Mortality from falls in Mexico, 1979–2008
Authors: Mendez-Magaa A C , Orozco-Valerio M , Celis A , Julio C
Published: March 2011

Introduction

Falls are event that would occur in everyone, although the most affect are the children and the elderly, and represent a high healthcare costs.

Objective

To describe falls mortality trends in Mexico from 1979 to 2007.

Methodology

Mortalities and trends were estimated for the study period from Mexicos official data based on the International Classification of Diseases. Injuries code includes were E880 to E889 (ICD-9) and W00 to W19 (ICD-10). Results were analysed by age group, sex and year registered, as well as by state and size of city or town of residence.

Results

From 1979 to 2008 we count 52 072 deaths from falls, of which 77.7% were men. The group of age with the highest mortality was the 80 years old and older. The place where falls occur in a third of deaths is residential institution/home. The states that show the higher rates of mortality from falls in the last period of time (2006–2008) are Aguascalientes, Jalisco and Queretaro.

Conclusions

Falls are deathly events that predominantly affect the men and the elderly. In general, the trend shows a consistent mortality decrease interrupted by a rise in 1998, a year that introduced the ICD-10 in Mexico. Since the population in Mexico is ageing, the absolute number of deaths by this cause will increase.
Motorised transport for kindergarten children in Uganda
Authors: Nakitto M , Lett R
Published: March 2011

Introduction

Kindergarten children are one of the vulnerable groups affected by road traffic injury. There are no laws in Uganda for transporting children. This study reviews known risk factors for transporting Kindergarten children in Uganda.

Methods

38 sampled kindergartens were identified from a city council school list and stratified by location. Children were observed for seven consecutive schools days in urban Kampala. Trained research assistants observed transport means, safety belt use, car restraint use and seating position. Frequency analysis was done.

Results

Children 40.1% were dropped in motorcars, 11.5% by motorcycles, while others walked. 92% used private cars, 6.4% passenger service cars, 1.2% school vans, 1.0% cabs and 0.2% truck. 63.4% of drivers who dropped children used seat belts. 8% of children used car seats. 89% were sitting, 9.5% standing, 1% carried while 0.5% sleeping. Children (61.8%) sat at the back, 33.7% at the front, while 4.5% sat between front and back seats. Children (80.7%) were received by an adult. 99% of motorcycle child passengers did not wear helmets. Motorcyclists (65%) who dropped children wore helmets. 71% riders had one child passenger, 27.3% had two passengers, 1.7% had three passengers.

Discussion and conclusion

Motorised transport in Uganda is very unsafe for kindergarten children and it requires regulation particularly on the usage of safety belts, helmets and car restraints.
Toolbox for educators to increase the awareness of the hazards of noise and to prevent hearing loss with teenagers
Authors: Van Daele G
Published: March 2011

An estimated 800 million people worldwide have a kind of hearing loss.1This number is expected to grow to 1.1 billion by 2015.2. In developed countries, people start to suffer from hearing loss at younger ages, primarily because of excessive exposure to noise from concerts, television, MP3 players etc.3Hearing damage from prolonged noise is permanent and can be devastating, whereas it is the major avoidable cause of permanent hearing impairment worldwide.4Teenagers form a particular vulnerable risk group. Teachers take in an important place considering education, but however, they turn out to be rather ignorant when it concerns this subject. Therefore a toolbox has been developed in order to use it in a teenager group. With this tool, the authors aim to increase the awareness of the hazards of noise, next to preventing hearing loss in a playful and empirical way. This workshop is designed for educators interested in using this didactic box about noise induced hearing loss prevention. Participants will explore and discuss the content of the educative material. The box contains nine different tools which can be adapted according to the level of the group. The box (19 pieces) has been and can still be lend (for free) by schools, youth work organisations in four provinces in Flanders. According to the user evaluations, the awareness has increased, the most vulnerable group is reached, and an education friendly tool is developed.

[1 3] Hear-it.

[2] MRC Institute of hearing research.

[4] WHO (1997).
Outcomes following major trauma: measuring recovery postdischarge
Authors: Gabbe B J , Sutherland A M , Hannaford A P , Cameron P A
Published: March 2011

Background

The Victorian State Trauma Registry (VSTR) collects outcomes of major trauma survivors at 6-months postinjury but the need for longer term outcomes data for monitoring recovery and quantifying the burden of injury is recognised.

Aims

Describe the outcomes of patients at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months following major trauma, and determine key time points for follow-up.

Methods

All 692 VSTR blunt major trauma patients, surviving to discharge from the Level 1 trauma services (October 2006 to March 2007) were followed-up at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months postinjury by telephone. SF-12, Extended Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS-E), pain scores and measures of work-related disability were collected.

Results

The follow-up rates were 86%, 82%, 81% and 83% at 6, 12, 18 and 24-months postinjury, respectively. Improvement in outcomes was evident over time, although the rate of improvement from 18 to 24-months was small. 21% of cases had fully recovered (GOS-E=8) at 24-months. 68% had returned to work but only 57% of these cases had returned to their preinjury workplace. 24% of patients reported persistent moderate-severe pain, and median physical and mental health scores remained below population norms at 24-months.

Discussion and Conclusion

Follow-up at 24 months postinjury is feasible and the follow-up rate is comparable to 6 and 12-months after injury. Disability was prevalent, highlighting the burden of injury borne by this group even 2-years after injury.
A strategic approach to disseminating sports safety guidelines: an application of the Diffusion of Innovations theory for New South Wales, Australia
Authors: Donaldson A , Poulos R G
Published: March 2011

Safety guidelines and risk management processes have little impact if no one knows about them, decides to use them, uses them in the way they are intended, or uses them over a long period of time. There has been recent interest in facilitating the translation of evidence-based sports injury prevention interventions into sustained safety policy and practice in real-world community sports settings. In 2009, the New South Wales state governments department of sport and recreation convened a multi-agency key stakeholder partnership to develop a whole-of-sport overarching safety plan and accompanying practical safety guidelines. The aim was to assist state sporting organisations (SSOs) and community sports providers to adopt a strategic, evidence-based and sustainable approach to safety. Previous research had identified that higher-order sports administration bodies (eg, SSOs) have a relatively unsophisticated approach to facilitating the adoption of new policies and practices at the community level, focusing on information distribution and awareness raising. In an endeavour to enhance the sustained use of safety guidelines, we developed a strategic approach to diffusion based on the Diffusion of Innovations theory of EM Rogers. This paper discusses the development of a strategic approach to diffusion of safety-related guidelines in the sports sector, including concepts and principles such as the innovation-decision process, the role of opinion leaders and change-agents, use of mass media and interpersonal communication channels, the adopters perceptions of the characteristics of an innovation, and attributes of early and late adopters of innovations.
Evaluation of a multi-agency partnership approach to the development of sports safety policy in New South Wales, Australia
Authors: Poulos R G , Donaldson A
Published: March 2011

Previous Australian research indicates industry support for a state-wide, all-of-sport policy to promote a strategic, evidence-based, sustainable approach to sports safety. A multi-agency key stakeholder partnership, directed by a credible industry leader was identified as key to the policy development process. In 2009 we used telephone interviews, a partnership analysis tool, and document and observational analysis to evaluate the creation and implementation of a partnership approach to sports safety policy development. The state department of sport led the partnership which included state sporting organisations, government departments and non-government organisations. Participants identified that the partnership approach to policy development provided the opportunity to incorporate multiple stakeholder perspectives, promote policy ownership within the sector, increase policy impact, establish a standard approach to policy development across sports-related issues and raise the profile of sports safety. There was strong support for collaborative sharing of resources, knowledge and experience across stakeholders. The majority of participants were satisfied with the establishment, operation and outcome of the partnership. However, some participants indicated that a partnership approach to policy development was not commonplace in sport, and therefore there was some confusion around why some non-sports sector partners had participated. A credible industry leader, a dedicated and experienced partnership manager, and a neutral, respected facilitator all contributed to the success of the partnership. Repeated evaluations of the determinants of an effective partnership are recommended, and investment in addressing deficiencies is required.
Long-term health consequences of road traffic injuries: a representative cohort study in Thailand
Authors: Ditsuwan V , Veerman L , Suvapan D , Bertram M , Vos T
Published: March 2011

Objectives

To determine the proportion of road traffic injury crash victims with long-term health consequences and the severity thereof.

Methods

The Sirindorn National Medical Rehabilitation Center performed a follow-up study on disability due to road traffic injury around Thailand. Following admission for a road traffic injury, persons considered at risk of permanent disability were followed up for 6 to 18 months. Six domains of functional ability were mapped into a six-domain, three-level version of the EuroQol (EQ-5D+) and translated into Global Burden of Disease disability weights for different categories of injury using an existing regression equation between EQ-5D+ scores and disability weights.

Findings

Overall 1.7% of the 24 354 non-fatal injury cases resulted in long-term disability. A total of 302 persons had long-term disability qualifying for a pension and 197 had sufficient information on six domains of functioning to allow a severity assessment. The highest disability weights were for intracranial injury (0.57, 95% uncertainty interval 0.51 to 0.62), followed by spinal cord lesion (0.55, 95% uncertainty interval 0.41 to 0.64).

Conclusion

This is the first study in an unselected sample of traffic injury victims in a developing country to provide estimates of the extent and severity of long-term disability. The results will contribute to improving the evidence base for calculating the non-fatal health consequences of road traffic injuries in Thailand and beyond.
Parent's perception and children's behaviour while trying to retrieve a toy from the swimming pool
Authors: Cordovil R , Barreiros J , Santos C , Carita A
Published: March 2011

Children drown while trying to catch toys in swimming pools. This study examined children's behaviour and parent's estimation of children's capabilities, in a task of retrieving a toy out of the water. Seventy six parents of 1 to 4 year-olds estimated their child's action limits before children tried to reach the toy. Absolute error, error tendency, accuracy of predicted behaviour and the action modes used for reaching, were analyzed. The influence of the child's and the parent's gender, and several predictors for real and estimated maximum reachability were investigated. Absolute error ranged from 0 to 30 cm (M=8.49, SD=7.03) and no gender effects were detected. More than 50% of parents underestimated their child's reachability. Mothers had a greater frequency of accurate estimations than fathers (33% vs 10%) but their mean absolute error was identical. Nearly 80% of the parents correctly predicted their child's behaviour when the toy was unreachable. Most children (78%) sat to retrieve the toy out of the water, and 70% fell in while attempting to grasp beyond their reaching limits. Height and sitting height were the best predictors of maximum reachability (R2=.469), and the sitting height was a predictor of estimated maximum reachability (R2=.209). Parents were cautious in predicting their child's maximum reachability. Mothers' greater involvement with children in younger ages might explain their higher rate of adjusted estimations. Body dimensions and proportions had a limited effect in predicting children's capabilities.
Disability outcomes following injury: results from phase one of the prospective outcomes of injury study (POIS)
Authors: Derrett S , Langley J , Hokowhitu B , Ameratunga S , Hansen P , Davie G , Wyeth E , Lilley R
Published: March 2011

Aim

There are gaps understanding outcomes following injury. The Prospective Outcomes of Injury cohort Study (POIS) aims to determine factors (discussed below) influencing the risk of disability up to 2 years after injury.

Study Design

Participants from five regions, aged 18–65, were randomly selected from New Zealand's Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) entitlement claims register. ACC provides no-fault personal injury cover to all residents. Entitlement claims are ones where the injury is severe enough to require 1 week off work or equivalent. The POIS study is at Phase One, with data having been collected about outcomes 3 months after injury.1

Results

2850 people have been recruited; 24% were hospitalised as a consequence of their injury. Preliminary analysis reveals age, gender, comorbidity, hospitalisation, perceived threat, expectations and pain predicted recovery. Potential predictors to report in September include pre-injury variables (age, gender, comorbidity, satisfaction with social relationships, financial and psychological status) and postinjury variables (health and social services, injury anatomical region and type, pain and expectations of recovery). Outcomes, 3 months after injury, include: health status (EQ-5D and general overall global health rating), participation (in usual activities) and disability (measured by the WHODAS II).

Conclusion

Understanding factors that lead to disability will contribute to better targeting of people at risk of poor outcomes and ultimately to service and policy initiatives.1
The effect of community interventions in reducing burns and scalds in children
Authors: Weerasinghe A , Ha H , Hartley D , Khan A A
Published: March 2011

Objective

This paper reviews the effect of a variety of community-based interventions in preventing burns and scalds in children. It also highlights how clinical research can be used to improve public health and awareness.

Design

The baseline research has already been carried out in the Bradford Burn Study which reviewed burn attendances to an inner city emergency department. The highest incidence of burns was in children below 10 years (36%) with 1 year olds being the largest group affected. Strategies have been put in place by community bodies to address this problem.

Interventions

A number of community-based interventions have been initiated. These include A burns doll which can be used in health promotion activities and child safety is integral to the Health Visiting Service. A hot drinks campaign in toddler groups and setting up of a Hot Drink Zones have changed practice. Safety leaflets focusing on the issues of burns in children have been produced. The information for the study has also been used in the Stay Safe event which has been facilitated by St Johns Ambulance Service. Further work in the community including the Primary care Trust and children's centres has also help spread the message.

Conclusion

This poster has demonstrated that a multifaceted strategy to reduce burns and scalds in children can be initiated by community teams. It is paramount that good quality clinical data can be made available so that effective change can occur in the field of child safety.
Youth:risk? More safety for young people by risk competence learning – from concept to implementation
Authors: Loewe U , Braun E
Published: March 2011

Risky behaviour is fun, but it may harm.

Description

The AdRisk project Community action on adolescents and injury risk (EU Public Health Programme) has delivered recommendations and good practices on risk competence development in young people.

Results

Individual risk competence can be developed by promoting special competencies and life skills concerning resilience to group/media/social influences. Risk competence has several components (1) adequate perception of situations, to realise the own mental and physical state, (2) assessment of risk and dangers, capacity also to develop alternative behaviours, (3) competence to act: responsible decision making for one self and for the group, (4) reflection of experiences, integration of former experiences (break), transfer to other situations. The aim is not to minimise the risk taking behaviour of young people but to balance the risk and to avoid harm. Also societal and strategic frame conditions are needed: establishing an ethos of risk competence development in teachers training, curricula development etc.

Implementation

Methods and tools have been tested in different countries (eg, the Netherlands, Austria, Italy, Hungary). Factors for success are as follows: – Active participation of youth in the development of the measure – Understanding of the developmental need of risk taking – Focus peer group approaches – Using experience-based learning methods.

Recommendations

It is important to identify the short- and long-term benefits of maintaining safe and healthy behaviour and of modifying behaviour that is harmful to health. Risk competence development is one successful approach (www.adrisk.eu.com).