International Journal of Epidemiology 2000;29:516-523
© International Epidemiological Association 2000
Childhood deaths and injuries in Finland in 1971–1995
a Accident & Trauma Research Centre, UKK Institute for Health Promotion Research, Tampere, Finland.
b Tampere Research Center of Sports Medicine, UKK Institute for Health Promotion Research, Tampere, Finland.
c National Institute of Public Health, Helsinki, Finland.
d Department of Surgery, University Hospital and Medical School, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland.
Reprint requests to: Jari Parkkari, UKK Institute, PO Box 30, FIN-33501 Tampere, Finland. E-mail: mejapa{at}uta.fi
Background This study examined the recent nationwide trends for the absolute number and the age- and sex-specific incidence rates of the fatal and serious non-fatal injuries among 0–14 year old children in Finland in 1971–1995.
Methods We selected from Official Cause-of-Death Statistics and National Hospital Discharge Register children aged 0–14 years who died or required treatment at a hospital department because of an injury in 1971–1995. The number of Finnish children was 1.1 million in 1971, and 1.0 million in 1995.
Results During the entire study period injuries were the leading cause of death in children aged 1–14 years, but not in infants. However, in these years the incidence (per 100 000 people) of fatal injuries in Finnish children decreased considerably in all age groups and both sexes, in girls from 20.1 in 1971 to 4.6 in 1995, and in boys from 36.7 in 1971 to 9.3 in 1995. In 1995, 41% of all the injurious deaths among 0–14 year old Finnish children were motor vehicle accidents, 12% were drownings, and 24% intentional injuries. The overall number and incidence of serious non-fatal injuries among Finnish children showed no clear trend change in 1971–1995. The mean hospitalization time of injured children shortened between 1971 and 1995, from 7.4 days to 2.7 days.
Conclusions We conclude that the number and incidence of fatal childhood injuries have decreased dramatically in Finland between 1971 and 1995. The reasons for this positive development are multifactorial, but improved traffic safety and trauma care are probably very important. In children's serious non-fatal injuries the development has not been so encouraging and therefore children's injury prevention should receive continuous intense attention.
Keywords Injury, children, time trends, prevention
Accepted 4 November 1999
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  J. Parkkari, V. Mattila, S. Niemi, and P. Kannus Injury-Related Deaths Among Finnish Children, 1971-2001 JAMA, February 12, 2003; 289(6): 702 - 703. [Full Text] [PDF]
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