Clinics in Mother and Child Health

Abstract

Home Injuries among Young Children in Malaysia: A Population Based Study

 Norhafizah Bt. Sahril, Yeo Pei Sien, Mohd Hatta B. Abdul Mutalip and Balkish Bt. Mahadir Naidu

Background: Home injury among children is a public health concern. This study aimed to assess the prevalence rate and risk factors of home injury among children less than seven years old in Malaysia.

Methods: Secondary data from National Health and Morbidity Survey 2006 was used. It was a cross sectional study using a stratified two stage sampling technique. The data was analysed using SPSS version 19. Descriptive and multiple logistic regressions were used in the analysis. All tests were two tailed with significance as p<0.05. Odds ratio (OR) along with 95% confidence interval (C.I) were derived where appropriate.

Results: Among 8017 children aged less than seven years, 994 (11.4%) experienced some kind of home injury within the past one year. Among those who were injured, the higher prevalence was reported among boys; 13.1% (95% CI: 12.00-14.20), rural dwellers; 12.4% (95% CI: 11.20-13.80), children aged 0-4 years old 11.8% (95% CI: 10.90-12.80), Indians; 14.7% (95% CI: 11.80-18.20) and children from high family incomes. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that boys (aOR=1.424, p<0.001), rural dwellers (aOR=1.243, p=0.015), children from ethnic Indians (aOR=1.949, p<0.001), others ethnics (aOR=1.865, p<0.001) and Malays (aOR=1.427, p=0.007) were more likely to sustain a home injury. Children from high (aOR=1.607, p=0.006) and medium (aOR=1.255, p=0.016) family income were also significantly associated to sustain home injury after adjusting all other predictors. As a result from home injury, about 11.6% (95% CI: 9.7-13.8) were unable to perform activities whilst 4.8% (95% CI: 3.7-6.3) of them had been admitted to the hospital.

Conclusion: Home injury among children is still a health problem which should not be taken lightly. Educational and interventional programs need to be implemented accordingly in order to help Malaysians understand the importance of making a safe home environment for children thus preventing home injuries.

Keywords

Home injuries; Children; National health and morbidity survey; NHMS