Self-reported unintentional injuries among youth (15-24 years) from Peshawar Pakistan: A cross-sectional survey on youth working in vocation institutes

Abstract

Abstract Background: The burden of unintentional injuries among youth 15-24 years is high. There is paucity of data on unintentional injuries in youth working in Vocational Training Institutes. Objective: To determine the incidence, characteristics, and risk factors of non-fatal self-reported unintentional injuries among youth. Methods: Design: This was a retrospective cross-sectional survey of youth recruited from vocational training centers in Peshawar Pakistan between February 2022 to October 2022. Participants: There were 547 study participants with 356 males and 191 females. Data were collected on self-reported unintentional injuries in the previous 12 months, using the WHO tool for injuries and violence [1]. Analysis for total injuries as an outcome and sociodemographic risk factors was done using a multilevel negative binomial regression model, adjusting for age and sex. Results: We documented a total of 503 injuries, with road traffic injuries being the most common (n=197, 39%), followed by burns (n=89, 18%) and falls (n=79,16%). Poisonings n=13%) and drownings (n=23, 7.1%) were the least common injuries. In-training occupational injuries reported were (n=95,18%). Females had a higher incidence rate of burns 2.19 [1.785-3.46] compared to males, while males had a higher incidence of RTI 3.24[2.35-5.3], falls 1.30 [0.74-2.27], poisonings 2.14 [0.57-7.58] and drownings 2.46(0.84-7.21). lack of education 4.6 [1.12 -18.91] (p=0.034), lack of helmet use 4.54 [2.12 -9.76] (p=<0.001), lack of seat belt use 1.3 [1.14 -1.69] (p= <0.001), smoking 1.25 [1.05 -2.69] (p=0.049), lack of fathers education 4.71 [2.12 -10.49] (p=<0.001), carrying a gun 6.59 [2.54 -17.11] (p=<0.001), crowded families 3.59 [3.11 -5.07] (p=<0.001) and lower family income 2.04 [1.04 -4.02](p=0.039*) were significant risk factors for unintentional injuries in youth. Conclusion Added value of the study: This study provides up-to-date counts and incidence rates of unintentional injuries in youth from Peshawar Pakistan. It also provides a recent trend of the types of unintentional injuries among youth with sex-adjusted rates. The area of concern remains an increasing number of RTIs in both males and females and a higher rate of burn among females compared to males and falls among youth. A high incidence of in-training occupational injuries was reported among the vocational youth.