Page 6 - 62 paediatric-trama25-29_opt

162 Paediatric Trauma: Epidemiology, Prevention, and Control
Table 25.3: Evidence-based research. Table 25.4: Evidence-based research.
Title The problem of children’s injuries in low-income countries: Childhood burns in Ghana: epidemiological characteristics
a review Title and home-based treatment
Author Bartlett S Authors Fordjuoh SN, Guyer B, Smith GS
Institution Children’s Environments Research Group, City University, Department of Maternal and Child Health and Injury
New York, New York, USA Institution Prevention Center, Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and
Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
Reference Health Policy and Planning 2002; 17(1):1–13
Reference Burns 1995; 21(1):24–28
Problem The absence of quality data on the issue of injuries in
children in developing countries and the tendency to see Problem Examination of epidemiological characteristics of childhood
injuries as random events leads to unpredictability and burns in the Ashanti Region of Ghana.
uncontrollability.
A community-based, multisite survey was used for the study,
Intervention An urgent need for research to guide the development of Intervention and caretakers were interviewed by means of standard
effective prevention measures. questionnaires.
Comparison/ The author has shown by this review that existing research Comparison/
control from the developing world on injuries/trauma in children control The quality of the evidence gathered in this study is high and
(quality of is scanty and largely hospital-based and therefore cannot (quality of the analysis concentrated on children aged 0 to 5 years—the
major age group that suffers burns.
present a comprehensive picture of either causes or
evidence) evidence)
outcome.
Outcome/ There is an urgent need for more community-based and Prevention implication of the study—intensification of mass
effect population-based studies that can contribute to effective Outcome/ education on first-aid management of burns with special
analysis of the situation, increase awareness, and lead to effect emphasis on alternatives to traditional preparations used to
the formulation of practical and well-targeted prevention apply on fresh burns and the need to provide play areas for
measures. children to prevent them from playing with fire.
Historical This study showed that a vast majority of children with burns
Historical This is a review that should spur researchers in the field significance/ are not seen in hospitals, and the health implications can
significance/ of child health to not only concentrate on communicable comments only be imagined.
comments diseases and nutritional problems, but spread out and
research into childhood injury and its prevention—a field that
is not well developed in sub-Saharan Africa.

Key Summary Points

1. Surveillance: Develop and promote standards for injury time that roadworthy certificates are issued, especially for
surveillance systems in the subregion so that efforts to improve commercial vehicles and heavy goods vehicles.
injury prevention and treatment can be based on solid facts 4. Driver behavior: Promote greater emphasis on decreasing
and can be monitored. overspeeding and alcohol-impaired driving, through both social
2. Infrastructure/road engineering: Promote greater safety marketing strategies and law enforcement.
features in road design. Promote more prompt identification 5. Other unintentional injury: Conduct research into causative
and correction of “black spots” (dangerous sections of risk factors and undertake pilot prevention programmes for
roadways where many crashes occur). These factors should the many types of child injury that have not yet been well
especially apply to speed-calming measures to reduce addressed, including burns, drownings, falls, and poisonings.
pedestrian injuries, the single greatest source of fatal traffic
injuries to children. 6. Injury treatment: Promote better organisation and planning
for trauma care services, especially with regard to children,
3. Vehicle engineering and maintenance: Promote greater including all phases of trauma care, such as prehospital,
emphasis on safety-related vehicle maintenance, such as emergency department, hospital-based care, and rehabilitation.
meaningful inspections by road safety authorities at the

Suggested Reading

Abantanga FA, Mock CN. Childhood injuries in an urban area of Bartlet SN. The problem of children’s injuries in low-income
Ghana: a hospital-based study of 677 cases. Pediatr Surg Int countries: a review. Health Policy and Planning 2002; 17(1):1–13.
1998; 13:515–518.
Burd A, Yuen C. A global study of hospitalized paedatric burn
Adejuyigbe O, Aderounmu AO, Adelusola KA. Abdominal injuries in patients. Burns 2005; 31:432–438.
Nigerian children. J Royal Coll Surg Edinb 1992; 37(1): 29–33.
Dowd MD, Keenan HT, Bratton SL. Epidemiology and prevention
Adesunkanmi ARK, Oginni LM, Oyelami AO, Badru OS. of childhood injuries. Critical Care Medicine 2002; 30(11):S385–
Epidemiology of childhood injury. J Trauma 1998; 44(3):506–511. S392.
Albertyn R, Bickler SW, Rode H. Paediatric burn injuries in Sub Durkin MS, Laraque D, Lubman I, Barlow B. Epidemiology and
Saharan Africa—an overview. Burns 2006; 32:605–612. prevention of traffic injuries to urban children and adolescents.
Pediatrics 1999; 103:e74.
Archibong AE, Onuba O. Fractures in children in south eastern
Nigeria. Central Afr J Med 1996; 42(12):340–343. Falcone RA Jr, Brown RL, Garcia VF. The epidemiology of infant
injuries and alarming health disparities. J Pediatr Surg 2007;
Archibong AE, Anita UE, Udosen J. Childhood burns in south eastern
Nigeria. East Afr M J 1997; 74(6):382–384. 42:172–177.