Distribution and circumstances of injuries in squatter settlements of Karachi, Pakistan

Type Journal Article - Accident Analysis & Prevention
Title Distribution and circumstances of injuries in squatter settlements of Karachi, Pakistan
Author(s)
Volume 38
Issue 3
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2006
Page numbers 526-531
URL http://europepmc.org/abstract/med/16412373
Abstract
Objectives
This research was conducted to study incidence, distribution, type, causes, severity and circumstances of injuries among people living in squatter settlements in Karachi, Pakistan.

Methods
Trained interviewers sought a 2 weeks recall for minor injuries for which no health care was sought, 2 months recall for major injuries for which a health provider was consulted and 1 year recall for hospitalization, disability and death from every third household in five squatter settlements in Karachi between May and August 1995. For understanding the injury circumstances 250 in-depth interviews of the injured or the close relatives were also conducted.

Results
Among 1182 households, having 9891 residents, 84 minor, 42 major injury episodes, 7 hospitalizations, 0.6 permanent disabilities and 0.3 deaths per 1000 person years were reported. Including all injury episodes, the common types of injury were cutting or piercing (n = 532), falls (n = 382) and burns (n = 235) estimating to 54, 38 and 23 injury episodes per 1000 person years. Injury mainly resulted from a piece of glass (n = 367), falling from height (n = 98) and knife (n = 97) estimating to 37, 10 and 10 injury episodes per 1000 person years, respectively. Fall (n = 32, 3.2/1000 person years) was the major reason for hospitalizations and all permanent disabilities resulted from closed injuries. Medically trained providers were mostly contacted (n = 339, 34/1000 person years), but traditional healers were preferred in bone injury.

Conclusion
Injuries are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Pakistanand the national healthand development agenda should include assessment and prevention of injuries

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