Injury incidence, healthcare consumption and avenues for prevention: a household survey on injury in rural Twiserkan, Iran

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the incidence rates of injuries of various levels of severity, and to document people's healthcare-seeking behaviours in case of injury and their views regarding the potential contribution of various actors for injury control and prevention. Study design: Community-based household survey in the Twiserkan district, Iran. Methods: A questionnaire-based interview survey was undertaken over a 3-week period in June 2006, and a cluster sample of households (n = 759) was visited by 10 pre-trained field workers. Denominator data were obtained from the Twiserkan district health centre. Gender- and age-specific injury distribution data were compiled by mechanism of injury. Results: The overall estimated annual incidence rate of injuries was 91/1000 person-years (10 for hospitalization and 81 for other medical attendance). Traffic and falls were the most common mechanisms of injury (n = 22 and 19, respectively); traffic injuries were more common among men and falls injuries were more common among women. Both mechanisms of injury were more common among adults (aged ?16 years). Most people with severe injuries and nearly half of those people with moderate injuries initially sought care at hospital, whereas all people with minor injuries initially presented at their local health house. Common suggestions for injury prevention included engineering changes (authorities), safety education (local health workers) and increased cooperation (citizens). Conclusions: In the rural area studied, the incidence of injuries is high. Injuries affecting children and males are more severe, and many of these are related to traffic and falls. The rural healthcare system appears to be accessible to people for trauma care. A range of context-relevant injury counter-measures were proposed by injured and non-injured laypeople. é 2009 The Royal Society for Public Health.