The Norwegian National Injury Sample Registry is a prospective case register of injuries occurring in the defined population of four cities. All injuries treated in hospitals and emergency wards are recorded in the registry. We used data from this registry to provide an epidemiologic overview of the incidence of injuries among children aged 0-14 in Norway. The study population consisted of approximately 61,500 children annually or approximately 492,000 children-years over the 1990-97 period. A total of 57,000 injuries were registered, or 116 injuries per 1,000 children-years. Approximately 2% of the injuries were classified as severe. 36% of all injuries occurred at home, 13% during sport activities and 13% were caused by accidents at school. Incidence was higher among boys than girls in all age groups. During their first 15 years of life, boys sustained on average 2.0 injuries and girls 1.5 injuries. Data from the Norwegian National Sample Injury Registry may provide useful information for prevention of and research on injuries among children.
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Comment In: Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen. 1999 Apr 20;119(10):150710354767