[Study on nonfatal injuries among home-stranded children in rural environment of Hubei province].

Objective: To understand the characteristics of nonfatal injuries among home-stranded children in the rural environment of Hubei province, and to evaluate the effect on child injury due to their parents going out for work.

Methods: Cross-sectional study and cluster sampling surveys were applied in September 2006 to survey students in six schools in Macheng city, Baiguo town and Songpu town.

Results: 3019 students were surveyed, 1182 students were home-stranded children, constituting a rate to 39.15%. Male and female children accounted for 61.51% and 38.49% of students respectively. The rates of home-stranded male and female students were 39.92% and 37.98% respectively. Home-stranded students who had both parents accounted for a 62.29%, and those who had one parent at home accounted for 37.71%. Among these students, the total injury rate was 179.1 per thousand, while for home-stranded children it was 253.0 per thousand. Male home-stranded children had the highest injury rate, higher than the rate for females. The three leading causes of injury were fall (84.6 per thousand), mechanical (40.6 per thousand) and animal related injures (36.4 per thousand). The main injury sites were at home, school and on the street. The total length of stay in the hospital was 208 days, and the total cost was RMB 47 268 Yuan, and the average cost per person was RMB 201 Yuan.

Conclusion: There was a high proportion of home-stranded children in school of Macheng and two towns. Injuries were more serious than general students. It causes a high injury burden to these home-stranded children. It is important to pay close attention to these children and to improve their safety.