Childhood injury mortality in Scotland, 1981-95

Abstract

Objective: To examine the trends in childhood injury mortality in Scotland between 1981 and 1995.

Design: Analysis of mortality data from the Registrar General for Scotland.

Setting: Scotland, UK.

Subjects: Children aged 0-14 years.

Main results: A total of 1,728 children died in Scotland as a result of an injury between 1981-1995. While a significant decrease in the rates of unintentional injury mortality was observed for both sexes, all ages and most causes over the study period, the proportion of total child deaths due to injury decreased only slightly. Road traffic accidents were the major cause of injury mortality in this age group, representing over 40% of all injury deaths both at the beginning and the end of the study period. Males and young children of both sexes had consistently higher injury mortality rates. Similar reductions in injury mortality rates were observed for males and females.

Conclusions: Childhood injury mortality rates have declined in Scotland, affecting all injury causes. The analysis of injury mortality rates in the population is helpful in highlighting potential environmental hazards that result in injury and in monitoring progress towards the achievement of national and local targets.