Studies focus on children’s safety

By Noimot Olayiwola/Staff ReporterTwo of the studies presented during the recent Hamad Medical Corporations’ third annual Child Health Research day have suggested making road safety part of school curricular requirements and making homes safer for children in Qatar.The overall aim of the research day was to continue to build child health research capacity in Qatar and the region aside hoping for new collaborative relationships from the event. The day featured high quality scientific presentations from HMC and The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto (SickKids) as well as local and international poster presentations. The event also highlighted research issues relevant to child health and gave researchers an opportunity to share their work and to communicate with one another.The two studies titled ‘Childhood Injuries in Qatar: Evidence for Focused Prevention’ and ‘Making Homes in Qatar Safer for Children: Specific Hazards to Address’, were conducted by Hamad General Hospital’s Surgery Department Trauma section staff comprising Rafael Consunji, Peralta R al-Thani, Hepp H, Mollazehi M and Latifi R.Data for the studies done among children aged 0-18 years, were obtained from the HGH Trauma Registry (2009/2010) and analysed.It is estimated that a total of 40,000 emergency room consults for child home injuries occur annually in Qatar.The objective of the first paper was to describe the epidemiology of injured paediatric trauma patients in Qatar and to make  recommendations for focused injury prevention programmes.Out of a total of 985 paediatric patients admitted during the period, mortality was 2.2% with some 86% of the deaths occuring due to road traffic injuries (RTIs).Falls were the predominant etiology (causes) among those aged 0-9 years while RTIs were the leading cause of injury in those aged 10-18.According to the study, most common victims were pedestrians, comprising children of age five-nine; bicyclists and all-terrain vehicle (ATV) driver victims were aged 10-14.Majority of all injuries in children at home occurred among those aged 0-5 years while injuries on the street happen to children aged 10-18 years.However, the study concludes that the epidemiology of severe paediatric trauma in Qatar differs significantly by age, mechanism and location while also advising that interventions to prevent paediatric trauma should be tailored to their highest risks and to reinforce the proper safety behaviours for the age of the victims.“Families with infants and young children must focus on falls prevention in the home,” the study suggests, adding that pedestrian’s safety must be taught in schools to children aged five-nine.“Older children, aged 10-14 must undergo safety training before driving bicycles and ATVs while for adolescents (15-18) seat belt use and proper driving practices must be emphasised,” the study also advised.The second study on making homes safer described home injuries in Qatar and also made recommendations for focused home safety programmes.The study reveals that of the 176 child home injury admissions in 2009/2010, mortality was 2.3% with 75% of the deaths happening due to falls.Most of the children were 0-4 years (66%) with falls the leading etiology at 68% and falling objects (FO) were the second leading cause of home injuries (11.4%).Only 12% of victims were older children aged 10-18 years.The study finds that for infants, falls and burns were the leading mechanism; for those aged one-four years, it was falls and FO; five-nine years - falls and bicycle; and 10-14 years – falls; intentional injuries were common among 10-18 years old (19%).The study suggests that interventions to keep children safe at home must focus on the greatest risks and reinforce the proper safety equipment and practices for their age.Families with young children must modify their homes to prevent injuries from falls, burns and falling objects while home safety awareness of caregivers and parents in Qatar must be surveyed in order to identify information gaps that must be addressed by future home safety education campaigns, the study concludes.