Background Unintentional injuries are important causes of mortality and morbidity in Hong Kong and worldwide. With improved knowledge, effective interventions can be implemented to reduce the rate of injuries.

Objective To study the relationship between unintentional injuries and social demographic factors and suggest ways to reduce injury occurrence and lessen its impact on health inequities in Hong Kong.

Methodology A population-based Injury Survey was conducted by the Hong Kong Department of Health in 2008. Using a structured questionnaire published by the WHO, a total of 9022 non-institutionalised individuals of all ages in 3025 households were face-to-face interviewed. Data were grossed up to represent the study population.

Results Overall, 6.2% (95% CI 5.6 to 6.7%) of population sustained at least one injury episode in the 12 months before enumeration which were serious enough to limit their normal activities. Both the injury rate and the hospitalisation rate were highest in the elderly aged 65 and above. Among those who had sustained an injury episode(s), a higher proportion of children aged 0 to 4 had three or more injury episodes during the study period as compared to other age groups. Descriptive analysis showed that injury occurrence varied in subgroups with different socio-economic backgrounds.

Conclusion Injury occurrence varied among different subgroup populations. Interventions with regard to Education, Engineering and Enforcement – the “3 Es” that form the building blocks of injury prevention were explored.