Burden of fall injuries in Pakistan--analysis of the National Injury Survey of Pakistan

East Mediterr Health J. 2011 May;17(5):375-81.

Abstract

There are no reliable estimates of the burden of fall-related injuries in Pakistan. To assess this burden and develop an epidemiologic profile for these injuries data from the National injury Survey of Pakistan, a cross-sectional population-based survey on injuries, were analysed to determine incidence and relative risks for fall injury. The annual incidence of fall-related injuries was 8.85 per 1000 population per year (95% CI: 6.8-11.3). The mean and median age of individuals injured by falls was 19 years and 10.5 years respectively. Children under the age of 15 years were at a substantially higher risk of fall injuries. Being a student and farmer/labourer/vendorwere associated with a higher risk for falls compared with unemployed. Fall-related injuries are a health burden in Pakistan, especially in children under 15 years of age. This represents a significant loss of healthy life and requires policies to curb this burden in the population.

MeSH terms

  • Accidental Falls / statistics & numerical data*
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Child
  • Cost of Illness
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Data Collection
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pakistan / epidemiology
  • Wounds and Injuries / epidemiology*
  • Young Adult