Abstract
Objective
To analyze the occurrence of accidents in a pediatric emergency room at a public hospital.
Methods
This was a cross-sectional, descriptive, and correlational study on the occurrence of accidents among children and adolescents identified during care delivery in a pediatric emergency room in the municipality of São José dos Campos. The initial sample included 2440 recorded cases, but the sample sized was reduced to 2,421 because 16 cases were suspected of a violent cause and 3 cases were missing data. The data collection instrument was completed by data registration in the unit using a care form. Data were collected from September 01 to December 31, 2013. Inclusion criteria were children and adolescents aged 0 to 13 years with an accident-related admission to the emergency room at the hospital where the study was carried out. We excluded those who were assisted in the emergency room for any other reason during the study period.
Results
Accidents corresponded to 12.1% of instances of care delivered. A majority occurred in boys (62.5%); participants’ ages ranged from 0 to 13 years (33.6%). Falls were the most frequent type of accident (48.7%). The body part most affected in children up to 1 year of age was cephalic/neck (75.0%); among adolescents, the most affected body parts were the upper limbs and lower limbs (approximately 30% occurrence). Main in-hospital procedures were radiography (67.6%), evaluation by a specialist (52.7%), and orthopedic splinting (25.9%). Discharge was the most common endpoint (84.0%), followed by observation (10.5%), hospitalization (4.2%), and death (one patient).
Conclusion
Accidents had a higher incidence and had an impact on the population and health sector of the municipality, including an increase in the number of instances of care and, consequently, in cost, in addition to the incalculable emotional impact.
Child; Adolescent; Accident prevention; External cause