Original ArticleThe association between disability and unintentional injuries among adolescents in a general education setting: Evidence from a Swedish population-based school survey
Section snippets
Methods
Our study is based on cross-sectional data from a Swedish national survey on 4,741 children's experiences of maltreatment, including questions about health, injuries and background.23 The data was collected in schools, in primary schools grade 9 (15-year olds) and sophomore year in high school (17-year olds), in autumn 2016.
Results
Among the total sample, 14.8% of the students reported having at least one of the six disabilities we have included in this study (see Table 3). The most common disability was ADHD (5.8%), followed by visual impairment (4.8%). Epilepsy and mobility impairment were the least common disabilities (0.7% and 1.2% respectively).
Table 2 shows that adolescents with disabilities report living with single parent or shared living to a higher degree than adolescents with no disabilities (50% vs. 31%).
Discussion
This is the first comprehensive investigation into the relationship between disability and unintentional injury risks among adolescents in Sweden. Consistent with previous research, our results imply that adolescents with disabilities are more likely to sustain unintentional injuries compared to their non-disabled peers.3 Our findings also support previous research suggesting an increased risk of unintentional injury for individuals with ADHD,5 sensory disabilities,13,16 mobility impairment3,17
Conclusion
There is an increased risk of unintentional injuries for adolescents with disabilities compared to their non-disabled peers, but longitudinal studies focusing on mediating factors are needed to better understand the mechanisms behind this relationship. Meanwhile, prevention efforts could be focused on environments where children with disability are more likely to be injured, but further research is required to assess the efficacy of such interventions for this population.
Conflicts of interest
The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.
Funding
The study was funded by a research grant (grant number 2013-4176) from Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (Myndigheten för Samhällsskydd och Beredskap, MSB), and data was provided by Children's Welfare Foundation (Stiftelsen Allmänna Barnhuset), Stockholm, Sweden.
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ADHD and accidents over the life span – A systematic review
2021, Neuroscience and Biobehavioral ReviewsCitation Excerpt :Of the remaining 56 studies, 27 studies examined children and adolescents, and 29 studies examined adults. Out of the 27 studies in children and adolescents, seven studies reported an association between ADHD and injuries without assessing any possible mechanisms or risk factors that might explain this association (Jernbro et al., 2020; Avsar et al., 2009; Shilon et al., 2012; Prasad et al., 2018; Rowe et al., 2004; Redelmeier et al., 2010; Hoare and Beattie, 2003). In the remaining studies, four different potential causal mechanisms for increased injury/accident risk in children were identified and discussed (core symptoms of ADHD, comorbidities, risky driving and role of parents).
The epidemiology of injury among adolescents with hearing loss, health beliefs regarding injury and associated factors
2021, Disability and Health JournalCitation Excerpt :In previous studies, the prevalence of injury in children and adolescents ranges from 5% to 55.4%.5–9 Unintentional injuries pose a risk, especially for adolescents with hearing loss.10,11 In the study of Mann et al. (2007), it was found that the rate of treatment for injury among children with hearing loss is two times higher than among children with no hearing loss (17.72 vs. 8.58 per 100, respectively).12
Unintentional Injuries Are Associated with Self-Reported Child Maltreatment among Swedish Adolescents
2023, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public HealthDetermination of risk factors associated with unintentional injury in children: Case-control study
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