Injuries Around the World

Injuries represent 12% of the global burden of disease. Moreover, deaths from injuries are projected to rise from 5.1 million in 1990 to 8.4 million in 2020. This increase is largely expected to come from a projected increase in road traffic accidents. Recognizing the need to call attention to injuries, the World Health Organization (WHO) chose to focus on Road Safety in 2004.

Injuries rank as a leading cause of death for children in countries that have more developed health systems (e.g. the USA, western Europe, Japan, Australia, etc.). Injuries are also a problem in countries whose major battles are against HIV/AIDS and other communicable diseases (e.g. Africa, Southeast Asia, Latin America), perhaps more so given the less developed health systems in those regions.

Child injury deaths in developed countries have dropped in recent decades, while the problem is growing in developing countries. Recent estimates state that 98% of all child injury deaths occur in developing countries and this translates into a rate of death that is five times higher in these countries than in developed nations (UNICEF, 2001 in Bartlett, 2002). It is important to note that this is only an estimate of deaths, and that non-fatal injuries still result in a great burden of disability or other adverse health effects for large numbers of children in developing regions.

Risks of injury are greatest for boys and for children living in poverty. Youth under the age of 15 and youth living in developing countries accounted for 98.3% of the global unintentional child injury burden (Bartlett, 2002).

Road traffic injuries make up 23% of the burden of disease attributed to injuries worldwide. In 2000, about 1.2 million persons were killed in road crashes. In addition 10-15 million people are injured every year in road traffic collisions. In 1999, road traffic injuries ranked 9th among the leading causes of disease burden worldwide, but by 2020, this rank is expected to rise to 3rd.

Deaths due to road traffic injuries are highest in developing countries, with 1 million deaths due to road traffic injuries in 1998. Economically they carry a large burden, as approximately 50% of road traffic deaths are among individuals aged 15-44, which is the most economically productive group in the population. Among men aged 15-44, road traffic injuries are second only to HIV/AIDS as a cause of premature death. In addition, 70% of road traffic injuries were among individuals under age 45.

References:

Bartlett, S. 2002. The Problem of Children’s Injuries in Low-Income Countries: A Review. Health Policy and Planning 17(1): 1-13.

World Health Organization

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