Injuries and injury prevention among indigenous children and young people

Pediatr Clin North Am. 2009 Dec;56(6):1519-37. doi: 10.1016/j.pcl.2009.09.016.

Abstract

Throughout the world, injuries and violence are a leading cause of mortality and suffering among Indigenous communities. Among American Indian and Alaska Native children aged 1 to 19 years, 71% of deaths are from injuries. Motor-vehicle accidents, attempted suicide, and interpersonal violence are the most common causes of injuries in highly industrialized countries. For Indigenous populations in middle- and low-income countries, trauma caused by motor-vehicle accidents, agricultural injuries, interpersonal violence, child labor, and the ravages of war are priorities for intervention. To be effective, injury-prevention efforts should be based on scientific evidence, be developmentally and culturally appropriate, and draw on the inherent strengths of Indigenous communities.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Accidental Falls / statistics & numerical data
  • Accidents, Traffic / prevention & control
  • Accidents, Traffic / statistics & numerical data
  • Adolescent
  • Age Distribution
  • Alcohol Drinking / adverse effects
  • Australia / epidemiology
  • Burns / epidemiology
  • Canada / epidemiology
  • Child
  • Child Abuse / prevention & control
  • Child Abuse / statistics & numerical data
  • Cultural Characteristics
  • Developing Countries / statistics & numerical data*
  • Drowning / epidemiology
  • Homicide / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Indians, North American / statistics & numerical data
  • New Zealand / epidemiology
  • Population Groups / statistics & numerical data*
  • Primary Prevention / methods*
  • Program Development
  • Program Evaluation
  • Suicide, Attempted / prevention & control
  • Suicide, Attempted / statistics & numerical data
  • United States / epidemiology
  • Wounds and Injuries / epidemiology*
  • Wounds and Injuries / prevention & control*
  • Young Adult