A Profile of Unintentional Injuries Among Iranian Adolescents: Findings From the First Health Behavior in School-Aged Children Survey

• Main Author: Siamak Alikhani
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shiraz University of Medical Sciences 2014-07-01
• Series: International Journal of School Health
• Subjects: injury; students; school; absenteeism
• Online Access: http://intjsh.sums.ac.ir/article_45033_e260722cd99b67635f3e7c51c1c0a3ef.pdf
• ISSN: 2345-5152; 2383-1219

<strong>Background:</strong> Injuries are among the leading causes of death and disability worldwide, and main cause of mortality in schoolchildren in particular. Research into the prevalence and pattern of injuries in school-aged children is important because of its impact on learning achievements. <strong>Objectives:</strong> This paper presents a perspective of injuries and consequent school absenteeism in Pakdasht District, Tehran Province, Iran. <strong>Patients and Methods:</strong> We recruited 2073 students from primary, middle and high schools using two-stage cluster sampling to participate in this cross-sectional study. The tool used was a self-administered questionnaire adopted from the Health Behavior in School-Aged Children Survey model. <strong>Results:</strong> A total of 44.2% of students reported at least one injury during the 12- month period prior to the study with a predominance of male gender (P < 0.01). The positive history of trauma showed a reverse correlation with the age of the participants. Participants' residences were the location for the majority (38.5%) of injury cases; girls were more likely to be prone to home injuries, whereas school accidents were reported more frequently by male participants than females (P < 0.001). About 50.4% of those who reported an injury incident had a history of consequent school absence. <strong>Conclusions:</strong> Male students are more prone to injuries than their female peers. Trauma is a rather common incident in schoolchildren of Pakdasht. About half of the injury cases resulted in school absenteeism. Establishing injury surveillance and implementing prevention programs, including effective health education, is crucial for student’s well-being and reduction of the negative impact of absenteeism on student’s educational achievements.