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Descriptive Epidemiology of Unintentional Childhood Injuries in India: An ICMR Taskforce Multisite Study

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Abstract

Background

Children 0–14 years constitute about 31.4% of Indian population, among whom the magnitude and risk factors of childhood injuries have not been adequately studied.

Objective

To study the prevalence of and assess the factors associated with unintentional injuries among children aged 6 month–18 years in various regions.

Methodology

This multi-centric, cross-sectional, community-based study was conducted at 11 sites across India. States included were Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal between March, 2018 and September, 2020. A total of 2341 urban and rural households from each site were selected based on probability proportionate to size. The World Health Organization (WHO) child injury questionnaire adapted to the Indian settings was used after validation. Information on injuries was collected for previous 12 months. Definitions for types (road traffic accidents, falls, burns, poisoning, drowning, animal-related injuries) and severity of injuries was adapted from the WHO study. Information was elicited from parents/primary caregivers. Data were collected electronically, and handled with a management information system.

Results

In the 25751 households studied, there were 31020 children aged 6 months–18 years. A total of 1452 children (66.1% males) had 1535 unintentional injuries (excluding minor injuries) had occurred in the preceding one year. The overall prevalence of unintentional injuries excluding minor injuries was 4.7% (95% CI: 4.4–4.9). The commonest type of injury was fall-related (842, 54.8%) and the least common was drowning (3, 0.2%). Injuries in the home environment accounted for more than 50% of cases.

Conclusions

The findings of the study provide inputs for developing a comprehensive child injury prevention policy in the country. Child safe school with age-appropriate measures, a safe home environment, and road safety measures for children should be a three-pronged approach in minimizing the number and the severity of child injuries both in urban and rural areas.

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Acknowledgement

Pankaj Gupta, ICMR, New Delhi. Kaushal Swaroop S, Kavin Corporation, Bangalore.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ramaiah Medical College, Bangalore, Karnataka, India

    Shalini C. Nooyi & Nanda Kumar BS

  2. GCS Medical College, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India

    K. N. Sonaliya

  3. AIIMS, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India

    Bhavna Dhingra

  4. Burdwan Medical College, Burdwan, West Bengal, India

    Rabindra Nath Roy

  5. Vellalar College for Women, Erode, Tamil Nadu, India

    P. Indumathy

  6. Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab, India

    R. K. Soni

  7. Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore (Manipal Academy of Higher Education), Karnataka, India

    Nithin Kumar

  8. PDU Medical College, Rajkot, Gujarat, India

    Rajesh K. Chudasama

  9. SRM University, Gangtok, Sikkim, India

    Ch. Satish Kumar

  10. VCSG Medical College, Srinagar, Uttarakhand, India

    Amit Kumar Singh

  11. CMC, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India

    Venkata Raghava Mohan

  12. MAMC, New Delhi, India

    Devendra Mishra

  13. NIMHANS, Bangalore, Karnataka, India

    G. Gururaj

  14. Hindu Rao Hospital, New Delhi, India

    Kiran Aggarwal

  15. UCMS and GTB Hospital, Delhi, India

    Piyush Gupta

  16. AIIMS, New Delhi, India

    Rakesh Lodha

  17. MAMC, New Delhi, India

    Y. K. Sarin

Authors
  1. Shalini C. Nooyi
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  2. K. N. Sonaliya
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  3. Bhavna Dhingra
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  4. Rabindra Nath Roy
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  5. P. Indumathy
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  6. R. K. Soni
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  7. Nithin Kumar
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  8. Rajesh K. Chudasama
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  9. Ch. Satish Kumar
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  10. Amit Kumar Singh
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  11. Venkata Raghava Mohan
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  12. Nanda Kumar BS
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  13. Devendra Mishra
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  14. G. Gururaj
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  15. Kiran Aggarwal
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  16. Piyush Gupta
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  17. Rakesh Lodha
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  18. Y. K. Sarin
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Consortia

ICMR Taskforce on Childhood Injuries

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shalini C. Nooyi.

Additional information

Full list of co-investigators and task force members provided as annexure.

Ethical clearance

Institutional Ethics Committees; Ramaiah Medical College, Bangalore; MSRMC/EC/2018, dated February 5, 2018; GCS Medical college, Hospital and Research Centre, Ahmedabad; GCSMC/EC/TRIAL/APPROVE/2018/24, dated January 28, 2018; AIIMS, Bhopal; IHEC-LOP/2018/EF0077, dated January 27, 2018; Vellalar College for Women, Erode; IEC/VCW/HR/2017/001, dated March 20, 2017; Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore; IECKMCMLR/03-17/42, dated March 15, 2017; PDU Medical College, Rajkot; PDUMCR/IEC/11097, dated June 16, 2017; SRM university, Sikkim; SRMUS/MS/IEC/2018-01, dated February 10, 2018; VCSG Government Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Pauri Garhwal; IEC/VCSGGMSI&R/2018/027, dated January 18, 2018; Christian Medical College, Vellore; IRB/10648/OBS; April 19, 2017; DMC & H-Ludhiana, Punjab; IRB/DMC & H XX/2017, and Burdwan Medical College, West Bengal; IEC/BMCXX/2017.

Contributors

All authors approved the final version of manuscript and are accountable for all aspects related to the study.

Funding

Indian Council of Medical Research

Competing interests

None stated.

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Cite this article

Nooyi, S.C., Sonaliya, K.N., Dhingra, B. et al. Descriptive Epidemiology of Unintentional Childhood Injuries in India: An ICMR Taskforce Multisite Study. Indian Pediatr 58, 517–524 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13312-021-2233-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13312-021-2233-3

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