EPIDEMIOLOGY OF SCHOOL-RELATED INJURIES AMONG BASIC SCHOOL CHILDREN IN EL-OBEID CITY, SUDAN

Dr. Kubra Ali Ebrahim Hammad and Dr. Mohammed Ismail Humaida*

ABSTRACT

This is a descriptive school based study conducted in El-Obeid City, Sudan, to study the characteristics of school injuries in terms of age, sex, , specific location, time of injury, body parts involved, mechanisms of injury, circumstances and outcome and to identify the physical and mechanical factors involved in injury. Morbidity and mortality data involving injuries occurring at schools were collected. The participants were schoolchildren in Grades 1–8; also, 12 headmasters of schools were interviewed. Occurrence of injuries during the school years was included in the study. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0 and presented in the form of mean and percentage. A total of 384 children have participated in this study, 226 (58.9%) of them were injured. Injuries were more common among children aged 10–15 years compared to children of other age groups. Female children 118 (52.2% ) had more number of injuries than male children 108(47.8%). Upper limb 89 (39.0%) was the most common body part injured. Bruises accounted for (74.8%) of the injuries. Majority 49 (21.6%) of the injuries occurred due to falls. 97 (42.9%) of the injuries were mild. There were three cases of death occurred due to injury in the schools. The study concluded that more than half of study group were exposed to injuries, and bruises accounted as predominant type of injuries.

Keywords: Epidemiology, School, Injuries, Children, El-Obeid.