Objective: To compare the differential implications of sociodemographic
and situational factors on the risk of injury among disabled and
non-disabled children.
Design: Data from the Emergency Department Injury Surveillance System
(EDISS) were used to compare, in a quasi case-control approach, injured
children with or without disability with respect to sociodemographic,
event and injury variables, and to estimate adjusted odds ratios for the
injury in a disabled rather than a non-disabled child.
Setting: Two teaching hospitals in Athens and two district hospitals in
the countryside that participate in the EDISS.
Patients: In the five year period 1996-2000, 110066 children were
recorded with injuries; 251 among them were identified as having a
motor/psychomotor or sensory disability before the injury event.
Interventions: None.
Main outcome measures: Mechanism of injury, type of injury,
risk-predisposing socioeconomic and environmental variables, odds ratio
for injury occurrence.
Results: Falls and brain concussion are proportionally more common among
disabled children, whereas upper limb and overexertion injuries are less
common among them. Urban environment, migrant status, and cold months
are also associated with increased odds for injuries to occur among
disabled rather than non-disabled children. The odds ratio for the
occurrence of an injury among disabled children increases with
increasing age.
Conclusions: The results of the study provide the information for the
targeting of trials of preventive measure in disabled children at
increased risk of severe injuries
