Mortality and morbidity caused by injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes among children and youth in the Split-Dalmatia county from 2001-2005

Abstract

Mortality and morbidity due to injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T98, ICD-10) in the population of the Split-Dalmatia County aged 0 -19 years, in the period from 2001 to 2005, were major public health issues. During the observed period mortality and morbidity indicators of injury, poisoning and other consequences of external causes (S00-T98, ICD-10) showed no significant variations. Males and young people aged 15-19 years were found to predominate among the county population aged 0 –19 years who had died from injury. The category “Transport accidents”(V01-V99, ICD-10) was the most common cause of injury related death. The category “Fractures” among persons aged 0-19 years and the category “Burns and corrosions” among children aged 0-6 years were frequently diagnosed by primary health care. Males and children aged 10-14 years accounted for the highest percentage of injury related hospitalizations at the Clinical Hospital Split during the period in question. The majority of hospitalizations were for the category “Long- bones fractures” (S42, S52, S62, S82, S92, T10, T12, ICD-10) and the category “Intracranial injury” (S06, ICD-10). Mortality and morbidity due to injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T98, ICD-10) are avoidable and we have to develop and implement national and local public health program focusing on the prevention of injury.