Causes and outcomes of unintentional injuries in children at Vietnam National Children’s Hospital in 2023

Abstract

Unintentional injuries in children have emerged as a critical global issue, marked by significant data limitations and considerable regional disparities in both causes and treatment outcomes, particularly in developing countries. The study aims to investigate the causes and treatment outcomes of children admitted for unintentional injuries in a hospital setting. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted involving 1,013 children treated for unintentional injuries at the Vietnam National Children’s Hospital from January 1st, 2023, to October 31, 2023. The majority of injuries occurred in male children (62.2%) and predominantly in the age group of 0 - 4 years (58.9%). Falls and traffic accidents were identified as the two leading causes of unintentional injuries, accounting for 37.2% and 22.7%, respectively. These injuries most frequently occurred between 3 PM and 8 PM and were notably concentrated in the months of June to September. A significant proportion of cases were discharged in a recovery or improvement condition (95.4%). The causes of unintentional injuries in children are diverse, with falls being the most prevalent. Injuries can occur accross all age groups and at any time, and the treatment outcomes for unintentional injuries are generally favorable.