bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multifactorial study of lesions for transport in vulnerable groups-Jujuy-Argentina-Years 2007–2009
Authors: Leinecker L E , Chalabe A , Zumbay B
Published: March 2011

Objectives

To detect different types to generate a short-term politic of prevention in pedestrians' lesions, cyclists and motorcyclists.

Method

A multidimensional descriptive study, of transverse cut of the lesions by transport of vulnerable happened in 2007 at 2009 in El Carmen about registrations of the Unit Sentry of lesions, by means of SPAD 4.01 classifying according to vehicle, age group, sex, events and others.

Results

Above 6950 registrations 530 events were studied; The factorial analysis of multiple correspondences with partition in classes using as active variables to vehicle type, sex, age and activity gave five different classes as a result: bicycles, of 0 to 9 years, passenger, without tally, ambulatory treatment, without elements of security in 24.15%; pedestrians, males, 50 to more years, collision with vehicle, hospitalised 15.09%; motorcyclists, of 10 to 19 years, driver, fall of the vehicle, activity recreation 24.34%; motorcyclists, of 20–39 years, driver, fall, carrying out activities of the daily life 27.92% and 8.49% from 40 to 49 years, males, day and evening schedule, in bicycle or motorcycle, without tally, derived, without security.

Conclusions

The multivaried analysis classifies a complex reality and it puts inadverted regularities and differencies allowing to suggest specific actions in prevention.
The impact of a substance abuse prevention program on occupational injury
Authors: Spicer R , Miller T
Published: March 2011

Objective

Evaluate the impact of a workplace program on occupational injury at a large U.S. transportation company.

Background

PREVENT is a 2-day workshop that aims to help workers ages 18–29 make changes in their lives and improve their quality of life, with an emphasis on substance use and other risk behaviours. Early findings show a reduction in alcohol use among participants compared to non-participants. Given the relationship of alcohol use and other risk behaviours with injury, we evaluate the impact of PREVENT participation on occupational injury.

Methods

Prospective matched intervention-control study. Occupational injuries among PREVENT participants (intervention group) pre- and postintervention will be compared to that of five matched controls. For each participant, five controls will be selected from 18 to 29 year-old non-participants employed at the same time, matched on job type. Worker and injury information will be compiled from company data. Conditional logistic regression will model the association of occupational injury with PREVENT participation, controlling for worker characteristics and exposure.

Results

Between January 2004 and June 2009, 264 occupational injuries occurred among 18–29 year-olds at the study company; 48 injuries/year. Between February 2008 and December 2009, 111 workers participated in the PREVENT program. This case–control design is useful because both occupational injury and program participation are relatively rare events.

Discussion

This study continues with final injury data retrieval in June 2010 in order to have a minimum 6 month post-participation period for each participant.
Injuries number three killer of children under 5 years: Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) from Pakistan
Authors: Khan U R , Zia N , Razzak J A
Published: March 2011

Background

Globally, around 950 000 children under age of 18 years die due to injury and violence each year. The rate of child injury death is 3.4 times higher in low- and middle-income countries than in high-income countries.

Objectives

To study injury mortality patterns among children under 5 years of age in Pakistan.

Methods

DHS in Pakistan was conducted from September 2006 till February 2007. It included 95 000 households. Child Verbal Autopsy Questionnaires (CVAQs) was administered to households which had death of a child under age 5 from January 2005 onwards. A total of 3232 CVAQs were administered, of which 3101 were completed.

Results

The main causes of child deaths (the probability of dying between the first and fifth birthday) were diarrhoea (17.7%), pneumonia (16.9%) and injuries (11%). Out of 3101, 90 (2.9%) injury mortalities were reported in children under 5 years. Ratio of injury mortality in urban versus rural areas was 1:3.5. Respondents were mostly parents (67.7%) and illiterate (74.6%). Injury mortalities were common between ages of 15 years (77.8%) and among males (52.2%). Overall, mortality was due to drowning 20 (22.2%), road traffic injuries RTIs 11 (12.2%), fall 11 (12.2%). Mortality in children under 1 year was commonly due to RTIs (5.6%). Frequent injury mortalities between 1 and 5 years were drowning 18 (25.7%) and fall 11 (15.7%). RTIs (19.1%) in boys and drowning (30.2%) in girls were common causes of mortality.

Conclusion

Injuries are the third most common cause of mortality in Pakistani children between ages 1 and 5 years.
Product-related injuries in elderly persons
Authors: Ellsaesser G , Krampe A
Published: March 2011

Background

In order to improve the statistical basis for estimating the number of injuries across all age groups, the Public Health Institute of Brandenburg has been developing a hospital related injury recording system according to the European Injury Data Base.

Method

In a catchment area of about 150 000 inhabitants (Land Brandenburg) all injured patients admitted to hospital and all outpatients are recorded on 1 day of the week (24 h) according to the European IDB standard. The 12 month prevalence was counted using the official German Hospital Diagnosis Statistics. The share of inpatient sample cases in all hospital patients living in the catchment area according yields as grossing-up factor for the number of outpatient sample cases per year.

Results

Within a 2-year period 2007–2008 a total of 2149 injured patients at the age of 65 years and older received inpatient or outpatient treatment. The injury rate rose sharply in persons at the age of 80 years and older (47.5 per 1000). In this age group almost one in two falls was caused by the affected person itself. Indoor areas and particularly flooring, stairs, steps and beds ranked among the most frequent safety hazards. Injuries were most frequently triggered by beds as well as by flooring covering or floor surfaces (rugs, mats).

Conclusions

Effective accident prevention requires both an individual risk assessment and individual counselling in the home setting.
Good eyesight a basic precondition for safety and performance in sports
Authors: Jendrusch G , Lingelbach B , Schulz D , Platen P
Published: March 2011

Vision delivers the basis for orientation, for example, when entering a training ground. Vision has a crucial importance for movement control and balance regulation and helps anticipating, for example, fast movements in ball games as well as potential accident risks, for example, in one-on-one-situations in football. We generated a visual performance profile for sports (including visual acuity, refraction error, dynamic vision, contrast sensitivity and depth perception). 1.500 vision tests with athletes of German national teams or first division have been carried out. In summary, visual acuity deficiencies were identified with more than 20% of the elite athletes, which the players were not previously aware of but which are to be classified as requiring correction. 25% of the athletes tested used a vision aid in daily life, for example, when driving a car. 30% of those with visual correction for nearsightedness did not use a visual aid during physical activity. On one hand, there was a lack of awareness about the effect visual performance has on sporting performance; on the other hand the correction used was unsuitable to go in for sports. Further studies show that with a reduction in vision the ability to recognise potential accident risks and the quality of depth perception or eye-hand-coordination decreases rapidly. So, with a view to injury prevention, it is important to wear a visual aid during sports if necessary! Visual function tests should be included in health diagnostics to detect and subsequently correct visual deficiencies in time.
Scope and patterns of interpersonal violence in Europe First results of the EU Injury Database (IDB)
Authors: Bauer R , Minicuci N , Kisser R
Published: March 2011

Interpersonal violence is an issue of growing public concern and there is experience that data from emergency departments can substantially broaden the evidence needed to tackle the many forms and different environments that violence occurs in. The EU Injury Database (IDB) is a specially designed large scale injury surveillance systems for all sectors of injury prevention, since 2005 including also interpersonal violence. The IDB is based on a sample of emergency departments in currently 12 EU member states. First results of the IDB violence module have been made available in 2009 (2005–2007 data) providing both basic epidemiological injury patterns (age, sex of the victim, place of occurrence, mechanism, type of injury etc), as well as specific information about the perpetrator (age, sex, relation to victim) for various contexts of assault (violent dispute, illegal acquisition, drug-related incident, sexual assault, dang-related incident). From these results also national and EU level estimates for the incidence of violence have been derived: for example, for the EU an overall interpersonal violence rate of one hospital-treated injury per 1000 inhabitants (or 1.8 million people annually), with the majority of injuries related to violent disputes. In the presentation, the quality, validity and plausibility of the IDB estimates for interpersonal violence will be discussed (through comparison with results from other sources like household surveys and study results); as well as conclusions of the Eurosafe violence task force on the potential of the IDB for violence monitoring and recommended improvements will be given.
Reduction in hip fracture admissions over a 10 year period in a Scottish health board with a well established falls and fracture liaison service
Authors: Skelton D A , McLellan A , Burleigh L , Anderson M , Lee A
Published: March 2011

Background

Guidelines on reducing falls/fractures 1–4 have been published with the aim of reducing the burden both to health services/individuals. Data on hip fractures are collected centrally and through National Hip Fracture Databases. Within Scotlands National Health Service (NHS), Greater Glasgow and Clyde (GGC) health board have had a phased implementation of a falls and bone health strategy since 1998. The NHSGGC community falls prevention programme currently reviews over 180 patients/month in their own home and over 500 patients/month are seen by the Fracture Liaison/Falls Pharmacy services. This study aimed to compare hospital admissions for hip fracture and due to falls in NHSGGC in the period 1998–2008, with data from NHS Scotland and England.

Method

Data on admissions were obtained using diagnosis code S72 (Scotland, ISD5; England, HES(6).

Results

Between 1998 and 2008 the number of admissions for hip fractures decreased by 3.6%, compared to a rise in Scotland (5.1%) and England (16.2%). Standardising the hip fracture admission rate (number of hip fracture admissions/population of those aged ≤65) still shows a 1.7% reduction in NHSGGC over this period. There has also been a reduction in admissions due to falls in ≤65s (in the home 32%, residential institutions 27%, street/highway 40%).

Conclusion

The falls and bone health strategy employed by NHSGGC has had a positive reduction on the number of hip fracture admissions and to a greater extent, the number of admissions due to falls over a decade.
Systems of geographical information in health, uses and projection in the programmatic area V, County De Jujuy, Argentina
Authors: Chalabe S A , Leinecker L A , Chalabe A , Zumbay B , Vega O , Barrios I , Volpi B , Chaile N
Published: March 2011

With the incorporation of Hospital Ntra. Sra de El Carmen as Unit Sentry of Lesions arose the necessity to relate the lesions of transport with a certain space, introducing the geographical variables in progressive form according to the population's demographic distribution under covering, administration indicators and hospital yield, having like short-term goals population's focus in risk like disable people, old men, pregnant of high risk, undernourished, etc, protective factors presence and for long terms the categorisation for geographical sector of sanitary risk according to vulnerabilities and natural threats. In front of the conventional cartography, the Systems of Geographical Information (SIG) they offer strategic advantages since they allow, in the first place, (a) an easy upgrade of the information contained in each layer or covering, in front of the static character of the information contained in a map in paper, (b) the interactivity, fundamental advantage for the users that can choose with easiness the most convenient layers facilitating the space analysis of the inter-relation between factors of risk and effects in health, (c) they are specially useful in analysis in real time, and applied for example in emergency situations, crisis or watchful of public health with the immediate incorporation of the information that is generated in each moment, facilitating the sensibly taking of decisions and in definitive, the capacity of the SIG allows to define the magnitude and the distribution of the phenomena of health and its decisive factors.
Aids and barriers to improving OSH performance improvements in South African mines
Authors: Austin L C , Butte G , Thorne S , Stewart J
Published: March 2011

Despite much investment and effort in technology transfer as a primary means of improving occupational safety and health (OSH) performance in South African mines, sustained progress toward zero harm has been unsatisfactory. In 2005, a South Africa Chamber of Mines task force called for developing an approach – appropriate to the South Africa mining context – that could be used to facilitate sustained improvement of OSH performance. The first step was to understand aids and barriers to accomplishing improvement. We used a mental models research method to elicit mining managers beliefs and underlying rational about aids and barriers to OSH performance improvement through introduction of new technology and leading practice. This involved creating an expert model – an influence diagram showing factors industry leaders believe affect performance improvement; conducting in-depth, mental models interviews with 31 managers with various OSH responsibilities in six companies representing gold, platinum and coal-mining sectors; and, coding interviews against the expert model. While industry leaders focused on technology transfer issues, interview results identified the importance of leadership behaviour as a primary aid to OSH improvement. Our key finding is that it is about adoption, not technology transfer. Successful adoption of leading practices is dependent on leadership behaviour, commitment and communication to facilitate eager adoption of technology and leading practice, rather than to facilitate reluctant acceptance of imposed technology transfer. These findings and other research inputs were used to create a unique and pioneering Adoption System initiative currently producing significant improvements in OSH performance in South African mining.
Knowledge and attitude of women towards intimate partner violence: a study of women in Tudun Wada community in Jos
Authors: Ochai E
Published: March 2011

The study was a cross sectional study carried out among women of reproductive age who reside at Tudun Wada in Jos, northern Nigeria to determine their knowledge and attitude towards intimate partner violence. 150 consenting females aged 18–49 in the area were randomly sampled. 72% had experienced had IPV, among those sampled 83% believed it to be justified. During interaction with the women, a majority of those affected by IPV had no idea how or where to find help.
A gender perspective on adolescents' perceived safety and security when moving outdoors
Authors: Johansson K , Laflamme L , Eliasson M
Published: March 2011

Adolescents in Sweden can move relatively independently in public space. Girls are, however, in general more limited than boys, for instance due to perceived insecurity in the environment. This study explores Swedish girls and boys understandings of threats to their outdoor safety in connection with their everyday independent mobility, and also how they see the potential threat of traffic. Focus group discussions were conducted with 25 boys and 25 girls, 15–16 years old. Transcripts were analyzed with discourse analysis. To girls, rape was seen as a main threat (and paedophiles to younger children of either sex). Both boys and girls described gangs of aggressive adolescent boys as a major threat, for boys in terms of provocations and violence but for girls gangs were a more ambiguous threat. Traffic was described as unpredictable and fast, often because of irresponsible car drivers. However, many adolescents felt they can compensate for drivers irresponsible behaviour by being careful themselves. In conclusion, sexual and physical violence were seen as major threats and were in general clearly gendered. Traffic, though sometimes threatening, was less prominent, and not described as gendered. To improve safety and security in public space is a matter of gender equity, and needs to take into account both girls higher levels of fear and boys often higher risks of injury.
Home and leisure accidents observatory: a new French data source
Authors: Dupuy M
Published: March 2011

Home and leisure accidents (HLA) kill around 19 000 people each year in France. French data collection is mainly based on the EPAC survey, founded by the InVS. Only 10 French hospitals are concerned and it only takes in account the accidents that request going to an emergency unit. Calyxis, centre of risk expertise, has been established as the major French organisation for the last 10 years in the field of HLA and their prevention, which goes from research programs to awareness campaigns directed to the population. Calyxis has been working, for the last 3 years, to set up an observatory of HLA, based on accident statements made by the members of the three most important mutual insurance companies in France. This observatory would have three purposes: to learn more and spread information about HLA, to set up adapted and well targeted prevention policies and to elaborate a new data base complementary of the EPAC survey. This observatory is made of two distinct but complementary systems:

Gathering and analysing accidents data: based on the accident and its circumstances, this first measure consist on an annual collection of accident statements of mutual insurance companies.

The MAVIE observatory: this surveillance and research system make for the individual follow-up of a sample group of 10 000 voluntary mutualists. It complete the first axis and allows us to determine risk factors.

This project is realised in close collaboration with the French National Institute of the Health and the Medical Research (INSERM).
Age and the social meaning of wearing a bicycle helmet among Swedish teenagers
Authors: Eliasson M , Johansson K , Laflamme L
Published: March 2011

The aim of this study is to understand the social meaning of wearing a bicycle helmet among teenagers, in relation to their constructions of age. In Sweden, using a helmet when bicycling was made compulsory by law for children under the age of 15 in 2005. Despite this, only 20 percent of 13–15 year-olds use a helmet. However, helmet use is not only a question of protecting oneself from injury, but also conveys social meaning about what kind of a person the wearer is. The study draws on ten focus group discussions (including 50 participants in total) with 15- to 16-year-old Swedish girls and boys. The material was transcribed and analysed using discourse analysis. According to the girls and boys, the most important barriers to helmet use related to their social identity. Central was the understanding of helmets as uncool and childish, which in turn was tied to bicycling not being seen as dangerous when that skill has been mastered. Ceasing to use helmets when becoming a teenager was described as inevitable and part of growing up. Safety discourses framing helmets as necessary protection against injury were largely overridden by the age- and identity-related discourses. Among teenagers, not using a bicycle helmet can contribute to the production of a positive social identity as older, fearless, and independent from adults. Using a helmet is associated with a social cost, which in many cases carries more weight than the possible risk of injury.
The Hungarian alliance against depression: strengthening social capital in the intervention region
Authors: Kopp M , Szekely A , Bagi M
Published: March 2011

The European Alliance Against Depression (EAAD) was formed in 2004 with funding from the European Commission to create community-based networks to employ an evidence-based approach to improving the care of depressed persons and preventing suicidality. The first intervention region of the Hungarian EAAD programme was Szolnok and its sub-region. Compared to the average of the previous 9 years in 2005, in the first year of the programme suicide rates decreased with 57%, in 2006 with 47% in Szolnok city. This means that the suicide rate was 30.1/100.000 in 2004, 13.1/100.000 in 2005 and 14.5/100.000 in 2006. The decrease was higher among men than among women. Most important elements of the programme: destigmatisation of depression and suicidal ideations, more help seeking, first of all among men, increasing number of calls at the hot-line services (50% male calls), increasing patient visits at the hospitals psychiatry department. Strengthening local networks based on local needs and facilities, strengthening the collaboration among the local helping professionals, that is a multi-focal and social capital building approach seems to be the most important aspect of the programme.
Suicide registration procedures and practices in Europe
Authors: Varnik P , Sisask M , Vrnik A , Laido Z , Maise U , Ibelshuser A , Van Audenhove C , Reynders A , Kocalevent R D , Kopp M , Dosa A , Arensman E , Coffey C , Van der Feltz-Cornelis C M , Gusmo R , Hegerl U
Published: March 2011

Suicide is an important primary outcome measure for evaluating the effectiveness of intervention programmes. The aim of the current study was to describe and compare suicide-registration procedures in eight European countries, pinpoint potential deficiencies and provide recommendations on how best to improve the quality of suicide registration in the EU. Qualitative data on suicide registration were collected within the OSPI-Europe project from country experts using a structured questionnaire. Suicide registration was based on the medico-legal system in six countries and the coronial system in two. Differences not only between, but also within these two systems emerged. In every country, the process starts after the fact of death has been ascertained by a physician and any suspicion of injury death has arisen. It ends with registration of the death in the national mortality statistics. Between these stages, several elements that are crucial to the consistency of suicide registration were identified: the professional background and co-operation among the authorities involved, performance of the legal inquiry and forensic autopsy, certification and final decision-making, and the coding and registry system. A model for recording suicides with maximum accuracy should include: (1) a comprehensive, accurate and time-limited legal inquiry; (2) obligatory forensic autopsy in all cases of injury death; (3) reciprocal and accurate communication among the authorities involved; (4) electronic data transmission; (5) final decision-makers access to comprehensive information and (6) specially trained coders entitled to obtain additional information from the legal authorities and the certifiers.
Cost analysis of playground equipment injury at school using large-scale school insurance data of Japan
Authors: Ishikawa T , Kitamura K , Sugimoto Y , Nishida Y , Yamanaka T , Mizoguchi H
Published: March 2011

Cost analysis is important to effective strategy for childhood injury prevention. In Japan, more than 90% of pupils and students in elementary school take out insurance managed by National Agency for the Advancement of Sports and Health (NAASH). The NAASHs data includes information on injuries as well as insurance proceeds. Therefore, epidemiologically important data on injuries in school environment can be collected through the school insurance. In the 2007 fiscal year, over 460 000 injuries that cost $50 for medical treatment occurred at elementary schools in Japan. 18 609 injuries of them were caused by playground equipments. The Childhood Injury Prevention Council of Japan (CIPEC) analysed 18 609 data on playground equipment in cooperating with NAASH. Using text mining technology, typical injury situations were analysed in this study. Moreover, using cost data, the authors analysed the data in terms of high cost behaviour, that indicates which kind of behaviour causes high cost injuries, and high cost product, that indicates which kind of product causes high cost injuries. Our analysis clarified the followings. For example, in case of swing injury, jumping down from a swing on purpose and more than two students swing cost $110 and $120 respectively, which are examples of the most expensive behaviours. As for high cost product, separating bar around swing is an example of the most expensive elements. This study indicates that detailed analysis of injury in terms of high cost behaviour and high cost product are useful for developing education program and prioritising improvement of product/environment.
Independent evaluation of the prevention of child injuries through social-intervention and education (PRECISE) programme in Bangladesh
Authors: Towner E , Shuaib M , Shafinaz S
Published: March 2011

Aim

To evaluate the implementation and acceptability of the PRECISE child injury project in Bangladesh.

Background

Each year in Bangladesh, 30 000 children die from unintentional injuries; drowning is the single leading cause of death in children aged 1–17 years. PRECISE is a community-based project with many interrelated components, including Community crche and SwimSafe programmes, tailored to the Bangladesh environment.

Methods

The intervention has been implemented in four areas, with two control areas. Quantitative and qualitative methods were used in the evaluation, including a household survey, focus groups and questionnaires, administered to parents, children and service providers. Observation visits were made to randomly selected Creches and SwimSafe centres.

Results

44 out of 45 Community creches were operating when the observation visit took place and were functioning well. The creches were accepted by the local community, with evidence of untapped demand for places. Observations on SwimSafe centres showed that 23/30 were operating on the day of the visit and were functioning properly. Physical facilities like landing places and swimming platforms were found to be satisfactory. Most of the swimming graduates reportedly had acquired the standard swimming skills (93%) and knowledge of rescue techniques (95%).

Conclusion

The interventions were acceptable to the local community, implemented in the manner for which they were designed and contributed to knowledge change, observed and reported behaviour change and modifications to the environment. Tackling unintentional injuries requires coordinated action across health and other sectors, with strong community involvement to enhance sustainability.
Intermediate outcome criteria and evaluation of suicide prevention programmes: a review
Authors: Arensman E , Coffey C , McDaid D , Van Audenhove C , Scheerder G , Schmidtke A , Gusmao R , Hegerl U
Published: March 2011

Evaluations of the effectiveness of multifaceted suicide prevention programmes often focus exclusively on primary outcome measures, such as suicide and non-fatal suicidal acts. In order to build the evidence for the effectiveness of suicide prevention programmes it is therefore important to also include intermediate outcome measures, which is the focus of the review presented. Intermediate outcome measures are defined as proximal effect indicators of single interventions of multi-level programmes and are directly linked to the objectives and content of each intervention. A review of the literature was conducted of suicide prevention studies including intermediate outcome measures and papers addressing psychometric characteristics of the measures used. Specific psychometric issues related to measuring change including content validity, construct validity, test-retest reliability and internal consistency were examined. 18 commonly used instruments were selected for the psychometric analysis. Intermediate outcome measures used in previous suicide prevention studies included instruments to measure changes in awareness of depression and suicidal behaviour, changes in attitude towards depression and/or suicide, attitudes towards help-seeking, stigma surrounding depression and/or suicide, acquisition of relevant skills, confidence in dealing with suicidal or depressed patients, and changes in antidepressant prescription rates. Few of the instruments reached an acceptable standard on all of the predefined quality dimensions. Although intermediate outcome criteria are more common in recent studies evaluating the effectiveness of suicide prevention programmes, most measures lack sufficient psychometric quality. Researchers in the area of suicide prevention should ensure evidence-based decisions when defining and measuring changes in intermediate outcome measures.
Public attitudes toward depression and seeking professional help: baseline survey prior to the OSPI intervention in four European countries
Authors: Scheerder G , Van Audenhove C , Arensman E
Published: March 2011

Public attitudes with regard to mental illness strongly impact upon whether and how professional help is sought by people affected and are important to understand stigmatisation. Several studies indicate rather negative attitudes among the general population, which, however, may be amenable to change. We undertook a general population survey in four European countries participating in the OSPI project, prior to the intervention. This survey was conducted by means of telephone interviews in a representative sample of 4000 members of the adult general population in both intervention and control regions. The survey comprised the Depression Stigma Scale, the Attitudes toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help, self-reported help seeking, socio-demographic variables and several measures of mental health of subjects and their relatives. We report on baseline attitudes in intervention compared to control regions, the relation between attitudes toward depression and attitudes toward help seeking, the relation between attitudes toward and actual help seeking, and the relation between attitudes, socio-demographic factors, subjects history of depression or suicidal ideation and subjects experience with mental ill-health in relatives.
Quantitative risk assessment of the swing in a park by integrating injury data, behaviour observation data and biomechanical simulation technology
Authors: Koizumi Y , Nishida Y , Miyazaki Y , Motomura Y , Yamanaka T , Mizoguchi H
Published: March 2011

Injury prevention is one of the most important and urgent issue in children health since the primary cause of death of children is unintentional injuries. Developing safety measures based on injury data are essential for preventing childhood injuries. Passive approach, namely Injury prevention approach by product modification is strongly needed. The risk assessment is one of the most fundamental methods to design safety products. However, the conventional risk assessment has been carried out subjectively because product makers have poor data on injuries. Developing methodology quantitative risk assessment for injury prevention is required by product makers. This paper proposes a new system for risk assessment by integrating biomechanical simulation, sensory observation data on how children's use products, and hospital-based injury surveillance data. The system allows a product designer for foreseeing how children use a product and which types of injuries occur due to the product in daily environment. To prove the effectiveness of the proposed system, this paper describes the application of the system to risk analysis of the swing in a park. In order to obtain children's behaviour data around the swing, video cameras were installed in the park. The camera image of behaviour data was analysed by image processing. As for injury data, authors used detailed injury data collected in hospitals using the body graphic information system developed by authors. The developed system can search the candidate of possible situation resulting in serious injuries using sensory data and injury data, and evaluate risk quantitatively in terms of head injury criteria (HIC) using biomechanical simulation.
Population based estimates of non-fatal injuries in the capital of Iran
Authors: Saadat S
Published: March 2011

Introduction

Hospital data underestimate the incidence of non-fatal injuries.

This study is a household survey to estimate the annual incidence and out of pocket medical expenses of non-fatal injuries in capital of Iran with a population of 7.9 million.

Methods

A random sample of Tehran households were selected by clustered sampling. They were asked to report injuries happened to household members during the last year and also report related out of pocket medical expenses.

The clustered structure of sampling was taken into account during the analysis; confidence intervals were calculated assuming Poisson distribution.

Results

9100 inhabitants were included. The annual incidence of all injuries was 188.7 (179.9 to 197.8), injuries needing medical care was 68.8 (63.5 to 74.4), fractures was 19.3 (16.6 to 22.4) and injuries resulted in hospitalisation was 16.7 (14.2 to 19.6) per 1000 population. The annual incidence of fatal injuries was 33 (7–96) per 100 000 population.

The injury pyramid was 1/50/646 (Death/Hospital admission/All injuries).

The mean out of pocket medical expense for injuries was 16.1 USD.

Home was the place that most of injurious accidents had happened. Injuries needing medical care mostly happened in the streets and highways.

Falls followed by transport accidents were the most common causes of significant injuries.

Conclusion

Non-fatal injuries impose about 27 billion USD out of pocket medical cost to Tehran population annually. Mandatory safety standards for houses should be considered by civil authorities.
Water safety education as compulsory part of school curricula in Europe: a potential model for low and middle income countries?
Authors: MacKay M , Vincenten J , Heller O , Peden M
Published: March 2011

Water safety education programmes (including swimming lessons) for children over 5 years have been demonstrated to increase knowledge and improve swimming performance, thereby adding a layer of protection to prevent drowning. In order to increase participation in these programmes some countries in Europe have made such education a compulsory part of school curricula. The purpose of this study was to review existing policies in Europe regarding compulsory water safety education (including swimming lessons) as part of educational curricula in order to allow the development of recommendations for good practice. Policy and programme content, implementation and monitoring were also explored to inform effective transfer of the good practice to other settings, including low and middle income countries. An English language questionnaire was developed with input from the International Life Saving Federation and WHO and piloted in three countries. The questionnaire, which collected information on the existence, nature, monitoring of policies and issues related to content and implementation of resulting programmes, was sent the individual identified as the most appropriate in 31 countries. Data are available for 29 countries. Twenty-two reported some form of policy or programme, with 15 reporting national policies making water safety education including swimming lessons a compulsory part of educational curricula. Policies and resulting programmes varied greatly in content and implementation. Few had been evaluated or are monitored for impact. Analyses of findings identified several important issues with implications for future research and practice and transfer to low and middle income countries.
Understanding women's experiences with employee assistance programs for assistance with intimate partner violence
Authors: Pollack K M , Cumminskey C , Solomon M , Krotki K , Austin W , Grisso J A
Published: March 2011

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a serious, preventable global public health problem with significant impacts on work. Limited research exists on the scope of services and programs that Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) offer to address IPV and the experiences of IPV victims when they interact with EAPs. To address this gap, we used a web panel to identify women to complete a survey on their experiences with the EAP for IPV. Data were collected from a nationally representative sample of employed women, 18 years of age and older, living in the U.S. A total of 1765 employed women were surveyed: 760 women contacted their EAP about their experiences with IPV and 1005 women did not contact their EAP about these experiences. Most women (91%) contacted the EAP in need of counselling, especially for mental health treatment and legal services. Most women (63%) were satisfied with the EAP services they received. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that satisfaction with EAP services for IPV was significantly associated with annual income and the type of help received from the EAP. Approximately 71% of EAPs users reported that their work performance improved after contacting their EAP. The most common barrier to women seeking help from the EAP was concerns with confidentiality. EAPs appear to be a useful resource for helping women impacted by IPV. Future efforts to increase satisfaction and enhance the role of EAPs in addressing IPV should address confidentially and strengthen how the delivery of IPV-related assistance occurs.
Estimating the burden of injuries in Uganda from all available data sources
Authors: Wandera B , Bhalla K , Abraham J , Lipnick M , Mabweijano J , Nakitto M , Bahcani A , Kobusingye O , Hyder A A
Published: March 2011

Background

Estimating injury burden in low income countries is hampered by lack of structured nationally representative data collection systems.

Objective

To demonstrate the construction of estimates of the national burden of injuries using a systematic assessment of multiple data sources. The approach harnesses the strength of each source and accounts for biases in data.

Methods

We conducted an environmental scan of all existing data sources that can inform estimates of the incidence of fatal and non-fatal injuries in Uganda. These included:

Mortuary data from Kampala city and Mulago hospital mortuaries.

Verbal autopsy data from two district health and demographic surveillance systems.

Community Injury Survey: conducted in one rural district and one urban district,

Uganda National Household Survey.

2004 Northern Uganda Baseline Survey.

Hospital based trauma surveillance at Mulago hospital.

Outputs and Building Estimates

We estimated national injury mortality from urban rates estimated from mortuary data from Kampala and rural rates based on the two HDSS sites. We estimated the population incidence of non-fatal injuries using the household surveys. Total injury incidence was obtained from the two national health surveys and the external cause disaggregation was computed from the community injury survey. Finally, we used the hospital surveillance data to estimate the distribution of nature of injuries.

Conclusion

Despite paucity of information, we derived national injury estimates from diverse data sources. Such an approach may have relevance to other low income settings. Development of a comprehensive national health information system that captures injuries is needed in Uganda.
The safety centre – product, education, location
Authors: Smith S J , Phillips K
Published: March 2011

Introduction

Detroit, like many impoverished cities, does not have stores where families can buy the products, for example, car seats, helmets, smoke alarms, etc, to keep their children safe. When the paediatrician recommends products to protect the child, the family must go to the suburbs to acquire these necessary items. Many of the families in Detroit do not have cars and must obtain a ride from a friend, take the bus or taxi, which is expensive.

Implementation

To remove those barriers, on August 4, 2008, Children's Hospital of Michigan opened The Safety Center to improve the safety of all children by providing education (for staff and families) and safety items at an affordable cost in the communities where the children live. The Safety Center is a permanent location in the hospital, has a mobile kiosk that can be taken to any location and is accessible via the web. Additional Safety Centers are being considered for placement around Southeast Michigan. Education is given to the customer on how to use every item sold. Families, Physicians and hospital staff use the Center as a resource to purchase products and learn the latest in safety products and education. Families can get a safety assessment done and receive a plan of care to keep their family safe. Safety Center staff is consulted to hospital rooms, offsite satellites and even other hospitals to help families with safety issues. Since opening, the Center has helped 2589 families purchase safety products to keep their children safe.
Reprioritising transport policies to protect vulnerable road users: the situation in the WHO European Region
Authors: Zambon F , Sethi D , Racioppi F
Published: March 2011

Introduction

Poorer populations bear a disproportionate burden of avoidable mortality from road traffic injuries.

Aims and Methods

Data collected by the World Health Organization on road traffic victims among the countries of the WHO European Region were used to analyze the distribution of road traffic injury deaths by road user category and whether such distribution is correlated to the income level of a country.

Results

Vulnerable road users (pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists) account for 39% of road traffic deaths in the WHO European Region; this figure is slightly less that the global figure of 46%. The distribution of vulnerable road users within the Region notably differs. Greece, Malta, Cyprus, Italy and France have the highest proportions of deaths of motorised two-wheeler users among victims of road crashes, exceeding 1 in 4 deaths. Pedestrians make up 18% of all road crash deaths in the European Union, but this is three times higher for the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS countries). CIS countries have urban speed limits of 60 km/h. There is a strong inverse correlation between the proportion of pedestrians killed and gross national income per person (r=–0.66). This may be partly explained by changing modes of transport with country income, but also has implications for infrastructure development and speed control enforcement to protect pedestrians in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Conclusion

Road safety stakeholders need to work together to implement evidence-based action to guarantee better protection for vulnerable road users, especially pedestrians in LMICs.
Addressing corrupt enforcement by road safety officers on Nigerian highways for fatality reduction
Authors: Okonkwo B , Emmanuel O , Ojugbana C C , Ikediashi I
Published: March 2011

Situation

Despite the increased efforts of the Management of Nigeria's regulating agency on road safety to curb road traffic injuries through increased enforcement, violation of road safety rules is recorded by recent studies to be rampant. Most media reports on road safety have attributed road violation to poor education of road users and corruption among road safety officers at check points on the highways. Thus increasing road risks and dangers.

Objective

To investigate corrupt enforcement practices by road safety officers and proffer suggestions.

Method

Activities of four major checkpoints of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) of Nigeria were inspected in Imo, Anambra, Kaduna, kano and Delta states. Focus was on conspicuously defaulting drivers on over loading of vehicles with goods. Ten over loaded vehicles were randomly selected and discretely monitored at each checkpoint.

Findings

The study revealed that in all checkpoints at least two in five vehicles that were stopped for over loading violation were not fined or booked due to acceptance of bribe by enforcement officers.

Conclusion

Weak and corrupt enforcement is a major set back to achieving safer roads in Nigeria. Sensitisation and effective monitoring of enforcement officers is necessary to address the high rate of corruption that contributes to increased violation of traffic rules. Road users should be given opportunity to report erring enforcement officers and the national road safety agency should set up a quick response system to enable them obtain evidence from road users that are willing to report corrupt officers.
Costs associated with road crashes in the WHO European Region
Authors: Zambon F , Sethi D , Racioppi F
Published: March 2011

Aim and Methods

To assess the economic impact of road crashes the World Health Organization in 2008 collected information on the economic costs of road traffic injuries and on the expenditure on road safety.

Results

55% of the surveyed 49 countries in the WHO European Region provided estimates for the economic costs of road traffic injuries. For countries using the gross output methodology (therefore including property damage, healthcare and administration costs, absence from work and long-term disability or death) the average economic burden due to road crashes per person ranges from 10 to 1300. Expressed as proportion of the Gross Domestic Product-GDP, the estimated economic burden ranges from 0.4% to 3.1% of GDP, being higher for high-income countries. With regard to national funds specifically devoted to the implementation of national strategies on road safety, on average countries in the WHO European Region invest 8.5 per person. However, countries like Spain, Norway and France invest up to four times more on road safety than the European average. A comparison between the expenditure on national road safety strategies and the costs of road crashes shows that the economic costs of road traffic injuries are up to 70 times higher than the expenditure on safety.

Conclusion

In spite of the methodological limitations, it can be concluded that more countries need to conduct standardised studies on national costs of road crashes. Such estimates can be used to advocate for more resources and to promote more investments in road safety.