Injuries among US children with different types of disabilities.

Abstract

We sought to determine whether risk of injury differs among children on the basis of the type of disability, and whether the characteristics of injury episodes differ by disability status. We used nationally representative data from the 1997-2005 National Health Interview Survey to compare medically attended injuries among children aged 0 to 17 years who had and did not have a disability. Characteristics of injury episodes were compared by disability status. We calculated prevalence and risk of injury by type of disability. Children who had a single disability had a significantly higher prevalence of injury than children without a disability (3.8% vs 2.5%; P<.01). Characteristics of injury episodes did not differ significantly by disability status (P>.05). After we controlled for sociodemographic variables, we found that only children with emotional or behavioral problems had a significantly higher risk of injury compared with children without a disability (prevalence ratio=1.50; 95% confidence interval=1.15, 1.97; P<.01). Children with certain types of disabilities are at a significantly higher risk of injuries than are children without disabilities, but the characteristics of injuries are similar.