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Unintentional injuries and associated factors among children and adolescents. An analysis of the Spanish National Health Survey

  • Original Article
  • Published:
International Journal of Public Health

Abstract

Objectives

To describe the prevalence of unintentional injuries in children and adolescents aged 6–18 years and to identify factors associated with a greater risk of suffering accidents.

Methods

A cross-sectional study conducted with data collected from three consecutive Spanish National Health Surveys. Data were analyzed using multivariate logistic models.

Results

The reported prevalence of unintentional injuries in children and adolescents decreased from 12.8% in 2003 to 8.7% in 2011. Most of these injuries occurred at the “workplace or place of study” and “on the street”. Boys suffered unintentional injuries 1.64 more times than girls (OR = 1.64; 95% CI 1.48–1.82). Children aged 11–14 years (OR = 1.22; 95% CI 1.09–1.37) and adolescents aged 15–18 years (OR = 1.24; 95% CI 1.07–1.42) had a higher probability of reporting an unintentional injury when compared to children aged 6–10 years. Multivariate analysis showed that the adjusted odds of injuries decreased in 2006 (OR = 0.87; 95% CI 0.77–0.97) and in 2011 (OR = 0.66; 95% CI 0.57–0.76).

Conclusions

The odds of overall UI are being gradually reduced over the years. Prevention policies are effective and it is necessary to continue promoting and motivating prevention actions aimed at the family, the school, and the community.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine and Surgery, Psychology, Preventive Medicine and Public Health and Immunology, and Medical Microbiology, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid, Spain

    Nazaret Alonso-Fernández, Rodrigo Jiménez-García, Leticia Alonso-Fernández & Valentín Hernández-Barrera

  2. Department of Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation, and Physical Medicine, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid, Spain

    Domingo Palacios-Ceña

  3. Departamental 1, Despacho 215, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Avda. de Atenas, s/n, Alcorcón, 28922, Madrid, Spain

    Nazaret Alonso-Fernández

Authors
  1. Nazaret Alonso-Fernández
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  2. Rodrigo Jiménez-García
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  3. Leticia Alonso-Fernández
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  4. Valentín Hernández-Barrera
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  5. Domingo Palacios-Ceña
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nazaret Alonso-Fernández.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical aspects

As this study was conducted with a de-identified, public-use dataset it was not necessary to have the approval of an Ethics Committee according to Spanish legislation.

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Alonso-Fernández, N., Jiménez-García, R., Alonso-Fernández, L. et al. Unintentional injuries and associated factors among children and adolescents. An analysis of the Spanish National Health Survey. Int J Public Health 62, 961–969 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-017-0950-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-017-0950-0

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