Profile of services provided by an accident and emergency care department in connection with road traffic injuries involving children, 2003-2005

Abstract

Objective: To study profile of services provided by an accident and emergency care department (AECD) in connection with road traffic injuries involving children in "St. Maria" University Paediatrics Hospital, Iaşi, Romania. Methods: The survey represents a descriptive analysis of 2003-2005 data regarding the 538 injured children aged 0-18 years and allowed to design the request pattern based on: a) comparison between observed case distribution by weekday, month and season and hypothetical equal distribution using x2 test; b) most common features of cases. Results: Injuries ranged from 4.3% in March to 12.3% in August, being significantly higher in summer. Children aged 5-14 years represented 65.6%. The male : female and urban : rural ratios were 1.3 :1 and 1.5:1, respectively. Two in three cases were found to suffer head injury, and one in two children suffered abdomen/ pelvis contusions. Conclusion: More road traffic injuries attended the AECD during summer. The common case was male gender aged 5-14 years, urban area, with head injury and abdomen/ pelvis contusions.