TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2016//
TI  - Pediatric injury during conflict and prolonged insecurity in Iraq from 2003-2014
JO  - Surgery
A1  - Carlson, Lucas C.
A1  - Lafta, Riyadh
A1  - Al-Shatari, Sahar
A1  - Stewart, Barclay T.
A1  - Burnham, Gilbert
A1  - Kushner, Adam L.
SP  - 493
EP  - 500
VL  - 160
IS  - 2
N2  - BACKGROUND: Injury disproportionately affects low- and middle-income countries, and in Iraq, this risk has been compounded by conflict and insecurity since the Coalition invasion in 2003. Children in such settings are particularly vulnerable; yet, the epidemiology of pediatric injury during conflict has not been previously described. This study aimed to characterize the pattern and outcomes of pediatric injury in Baghdad, Iraq from 2003-2014. <br><br>METHODS: We conducted a cluster-randomized, cross-sectional, community-based survey in Baghdad in 2014 to determine the epidemiology and impact of injuries since 2003. This study details the injury patterns and outcomes among children (ie, <18 years of age) as well as care sought and provided. <br><br>RESULTS: A total of 900 households, which represented 5,148 persons, were surveyed. There were 152 pediatric injuries from 2003-2014 (28% of all injuries). The incidence of childhood injury during the study period was 6.5 per 1,000 life years. The most common cause of injury was fall (52 injuries; 34% of pediatric injuries) followed by road traffic crash (32; 22%). Fifteen percent of pediatric injuries were directly related to conflict (22 injuries). There were 10 reported deaths (7% of pediatric injuries). <br><br>CONCLUSION: Although falls and road traffic crashes were the most common causes of childhood injury, conflict was directly responsible for 1 in 6 injuries. The number of pediatric injuries that resulted in death far exceeded that of low- and middle-income countries unaffected by conflict. These findings reflect the importance of pediatric injury prevention, protection of vulnerable populations, and essential trauma care during conflict.<br><br>Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0039-6060
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.surg.2016.03.022
ID  - ref1
ER  -