Aetiology of Abdominal Injuries in Children:- at Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu A preliminary study,

Abstract

The occurrence of abdominal injuries in children appear to be on the increase in our environment and; several aetiological factors have been implicated. To outline the aetiological factors responsible for abdominal injuries in children managed at our health institution. A two-year prospective study carried out between January 2007 and December 2008. Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria. All children that presented with abdominal injury. Children who were managed for abdominal injuries were studied prospectively for two years between January 2007 and December 2008. Data obtained from informants (parents, guardians, police, road safety corps members and passers-by) included sex, age, cause of injury, time and place of occurrence of injury, type and mechanism of injury were entered into a structured proforma. Analysis of data was done with SPSS version 15. Forty-nine children were studied, of which 38 (77.6%) were males, and 11 (22.4%) were females, with a male to female ratio of 3.5:1. Their ages ranged between 8 months and 14 years with a mean age of 8.84+3.057. Road traffic accident was the aetiological factor in 34 (69.4%) cases, vehicular accidents were responsible in 26 (76.5%) of the road traffic accidents while motorcycle related causes were seen in 8 (23.5%). Other aetiological factors were fall from height 7 (14.3%), gun shot and Blunt injury from blow/kick each were in 3 (6.1%) and stab wounds 2 (4.1%). Abdominal injuries in children in our study were caused mostly by road traffic accidents and falls. Other aetiological factors were stab wounds and assaults.

Key words: Abdominal injuries, Aetiology, children.