URBAN-RURAL VARIATION IN MORTALITY AND HOSPITAL ADMISSION RATES FOR UNINTENTIONAL INJURY IN IRELAND

This study seeks to identify differences in mortality and hospital admission rates from unintentional injury between urban and rural populations in the Republic of Ireland, in order to identify those at higher or lower risk of specific injuries and to make recommendations for prevention. Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) in residents of urban and rural areas from all causes of unintentional injury were calculated using mortality data from 1980-2000. Hospital admission data from 1993-2000 were used to calculate standardized hospital admission ratios in urban and rural residents. Population data were obtained from the 1981, 1986, 1991 and 1996 censuses. The results showed that the rate of unintentional injury mortality was significantly higher in rural residents for all-cause unintentional injury mortality and specifically for deaths related to motor vehicle trauma (MVT), drowning, machinery and firearms. There were significantly higher SMRs in urban residents for falls and poisoning. The rate of unintentional injury hospital admission was significantly higher in rural residents for all-cause unintentional injury and specifically for injuries from falls, MVT, being struck by or against an object, injuries in pedal cyclists, fire/burn injuries and machinery injuries. SMRs were significantly higher in residents of urban areas for poisoning and pedestrian injuries. These results suggest that there are urban-rural differences in mortality and hospital admissions for injuries. Possible reasons for the higher rural mortality rates are higher case fatality in MVT and increased exposure to hazardous farm machinery, firearms and open bodies of water.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/13538047
• Corporate Authors:

  BMJ Publishing Group

  BMJ House, Tavistock Square
  London WC1H 9JR,   United Kingdom 
• Authors:
  • Boland, M
  • Staines, A
  • Fitzpatrick, P
  • Scallan, E
• Publication Date: 2005-2

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 38-42
• Serial:
  • Injury Prevention
  • Volume: 11
  • Issue Number: 1
  • Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group
  • ISSN: 1353-8047
  • EISSN: 1475-5785
  • Serial URL: http://injuryprevention.bmj.com/

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bicycle crashes; Crash types; Crashes; Fatalities; Hospitals; Injury rates; Pedestrian vehicle crashes; Rural areas; Urban areas
• Geographic Terms: Ireland
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I81: Accident Statistics; I84: Personal Injuries;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00986654
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Feb 16 2005 12:00AM