Citation

Welander G, Ekman R, Svanström L, Ponce de Leon AP, Santesson P. J. Traffic Med. 2001; 29(3-4): 20-28.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2001, International Association for Accident and Traffic Medicine)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Objective: To analyse differences in the trend in childhood bicycle-related injuries in Sweden between geographic areas - north/south and urban/rural. Methods: The study population consisted of children 0-14 years of age (both genders). National hospital-discharge data (ICD-9) for bicycle-related injuries were used for the period 1987 to 1996. Multivariate analysis was performed to examine linear and quadratic time trends in a statistical model. Results: There were no differences in incidence rate between the south and the north, except for children 7-14 (higher rate). There are substantial differences between urban and rural areas, and no possible methodological errors could explain this finding. But the picture that emerged from the north/south comparison is not as clear. Conclusion: From methodological point of view the statistical method used with both linear and quadratic modelling of the panels gives a better understanding of the time trends than the traditional linear regression model alone. The study gives a strong support for launching preventive programmes, especially in the urban and suburban (county) areas compared to the rest of Sweden.