Accidental Injuries in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Authors

  • Jorge Ramos Castañeda Universidad Antonio Nariño, Colombia
  • Magda Lilina Villamizar Osorio Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia
  • Rhonald Andres Hernandez Universidad Antonio Nariño, Colombia
  • Luz Mery Contreras Ramos Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia
  • Elveny Laguado Jaimes Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia
  • Luisa Maria Zambrano Universidad Antonio Nariño, Colombia
  • Jhon Alexander Rojas Caballero Universidad de Santander, Colombia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14482/sun.41.02.345.549

Keywords:

Accidental injuries, Adolescents, Child, Systematic review, Accidents

Abstract

Objective: To describe the accident mechanisms and types of injuries in children and adolescents.

Methodology: All studies reporting accidental injury cases in populations above one month and under 18 were included. Those reporting self-inflicted, non-accidental, violent injuries and suicide attempts and studies reporting dental or ocular injuries were excluded. We searched the MEDLINE, LILACS, and ScienceDirect databases for studies published after 2000. The meta-analyses were performed to evaluate different effects, such as the overall proportion of accidental injuries by gender, areas of the body, and those occurring at home.

Results: The systematic review included a total of 91 articles. The most frequent accident mechanisms were motor vehicle accidents, falls, and poisonings. Injuries occurred 62% (CI 95% 58% - 66%) in males and 56% (95% CI 46% - 66%) at home. The most affected areas by accidental injuries were the head and neck areas and upper limbs, while the chest and abdomen were the least affected areas.

Conclusion: The most frequent accidental injuries in children and adolescents are associated with motor vehicle accidents and falls. Males have a greater risk of presenting accidental injuries compared to females. The injuries primarily affect the head and neck areas.

Contributions to the field:

  • Motor vehicle accidents and falls are the most frequent accidental injuries.
  • Males have a greater risk of presenting accidental injuries compared to females.
  • The accidents occur most frequently at home and primarily affect the head and neck.

Author Biographies

Jorge Ramos Castañeda, Universidad Antonio Nariño, Colombia

Enfermero, Universidad Surcolombiana (Colombia). Especialista en Epidemiología, Universidad Surcolombiana. Magíster en Epidemiología Clínica, Universidad de La Frontera (Chile). Doctor en Salud Pública, Universidad CES (Colombia). Profesor, Universidad Antonio Nariño, Neiva (Colombia). joramos98@uan.edu.co. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3297-0012

Magda Lilina Villamizar Osorio, Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia

Enfermera, Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia. Especialista en Auditoría de la Calidad y Gerencia en Salud, Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia. Doctora en Enfermería, Universidad Nacional de Colombia. Profesora, Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia, sede Bucaramanga. magda.villamizar@campusucc.edu.co. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4774-8545

Rhonald Andres Hernandez , Universidad Antonio Nariño, Colombia

Enfermero, Universidad Surcolombiana (Colombia). Especialista en Epidemiología, Universidad Surcolombiana. Magíster en Epidemiología, Universidad El Bosque (Colombia). Candidato a doctor en Salud Pública, Universidad El Bosque. Profesor, Universidad Antonio Nariño, Neiva (Colombia). rhernandez38@uan.edu.co.rahernandezr@outlook.com. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8111-0185

Luz Mery Contreras Ramos, Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia

Enfermera, Universidad Industrial de Santander (Colombia). Magíster en Epidemiologia, Universidad CES (Colombia). Profesora, Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia, sede Bucaramanga. luz.contrerasr@campusucc.edu.co. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1858-6789

Elveny Laguado Jaimes, Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia

Enfermera, Universidad Industrial de Santander (Colombia). Especialista en Docencia Universitaria, Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia. Especialista en Salud Ocupacional, Universidad Manuela Beltrán (Colombia). Magíster en Enfermería, Universidad de La Sabana (Colombia). Profesora, Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia, sede Bucaramanga.

elveny.laguado@campusucc.edu.co. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7169-6912

Luisa Maria Zambrano, Universidad Antonio Nariño, Colombia

Enfermera, Universidad Antonio Nariño. Universidad Antonio Nariño, Neiva (Colombia). lzambrano01@uan.edu.co. https://orcid.org/0009-0005-0306-8136

Jhon Alexander Rojas Caballero, Universidad de Santander, Colombia

Enfermero, Universidad Popular del Cesar (Colombia). Especialista en Cuidado al Adulto y al Niño en Estado Crítico de Salud, Universidad de Cartagena (Colombia). Magíster en Enfermería, Universidad de Cartagena. Profesor, Universidad de Santander, Cúcuta (Colombia). jho.rojas@mail.udes.edu.co. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5094-4777

Published

2025-06-13

How to Cite

Ramos Castañeda, J., Villamizar Osorio, M. L., Hernandez , R. A. ., Contreras Ramos, L. M., Laguado Jaimes, E. ., Zambrano, L. M., & Rojas Caballero, J. A. . (2025). Accidental Injuries in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL SALUD UNINORTE, 41(2), 625–645. https://doi.org/10.14482/sun.41.02.345.549

Issue

Section

SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS (WITHOUT META-ANALYSIS)

Most read articles by the same author(s)