Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #102826

Mazyar Shadman¹, Mohammad Ghodsi¹, and Bahman Roudsari². (1) Sina Trauma Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Apt.14 , No.4 , 4th South Razan St., Mirdamad St., Tehran, Iran, (2) Epidemiology Department, Harborview Injury Prevention & Research Center, Box: 359960 #325, 9th Ave, #325, 9th Ave, Seattle, WA 98104, 206-744-9466, roudsari@u.washington.edu

Objectives: To identify at risk groups of the population and determine the characteristics of the fatal injuries among children of a metropolitan area with a population of more than 12 million people.

Methods: Fatal injuries were identified, reviewing all the medical and legal documents of the deceased registered at Tehran's Legal Medicine Organization (LMO). According to the Iranian Law, all trauma-related deaths must be reported to LMO. Demographic characteristics of the deceased and intention, type, time and place of the injury were extracted from the records. The study was approved by the Human Subject Committee of Tehran University of Medical Sciences.

Results: Children (<16 years old) comprised approximately 10% (419 cases) of the total fatal injuries. 62 % were boys. 3.8% and 2.3% of the fatal injuries were due to homicide and suicide respectively. Fifty percent of the injuries were due to motor vehicle crashes (MVCs) ,including pedestrian injuries, , followed by burns (18%), falls 6% and poisoning (6%). Pedestrians, motorcyclists and bicyclists comprised 70%, 6% and 3% of the MVCs respectively. No helmet use was reported for any one of the motorcyclists or bicyclists.

Discussion: Although similar to many other less developed countries, MVCs are the leading cause trauma related death among our children, 10% intentional injuries was striking for us. Our future studies will allow us to determine the potential strategies that might be used in order to alleviate the magnitude of the problem in our community.

Learning Objectives:

• Describing the pattern of childhood trauma death in a lesser developed country, and describing the similarities and differences between injury death pattern in this country with more developed countries
• Revealing the importance of the intentiaonal injuries in the city that needs prudent attention
• Providing a baseline information for future preventive strategies
• Providing a baselie for the readers think about potentially the most effective injury prevention intervention

Keywords: Child Health, Injuries

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.