Is There Equalisation in Socioeconomic Differences in the Risk of Traffic Injuries in Childhood? A Study of Three Cohorts of Swedish School Children

This article reports on a study undertaken to evaluate the socioeconomic differences in the risk of traffic injuries in childhood. The authors investigate equalization of socioeconomic differences in injury risks at school ages, considering changes in risk inequalities over time for various categories of road users. Three national cohorts of children (n = 190,000 for each) were followed. Subjects were attributed a household socioeconomic status in 1990 and their traffic injuries were sought over a five-year period (1990-1994) in the national hospital discharge and causes of death registers (in Sweden). Socioeconomic inequality was measured by year and cohort for various road traffic injury (RTI) diagnoses using the Relative Index of Inequality (RII). RII scores were generally high except for bicycle-related injuries among boys from the oldest cohort throughout the follow up. Some, but limited, support to the concept of equalization was found, especially among young male bicycle riders. The authors conclude that population-based intervention aimed at improving safety behaviors among bicycle or motor-vehicle users should target not only suspected class-related influences, but even influences from the school, peer group, and youth culture.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/03340139
• Authors:
  • Laflamme, Lucie
  • Engstrom, Karin
  • Huisman, Martijn
• Publication Date: 2004

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 253-263
• Serial:
  • International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health
  • Volume: 16
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: Freund Publishing House
  • ISSN: 0334-0139

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bicycle crashes; Children; Crashes; Gender; Injuries; Risk analysis; Risk assessment; Socioeconomic factors
• Geographic Terms: Sweden
• Subject Areas: Economics; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Society; I81: Accident Statistics;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01003019
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 17 2005 10:53AM