Epidemiology of home injuries in Kashan during 2005

Traumas are among the most serious health-threatening obstacles in modern societies. Contrary to the common belief that home is a safe place, about one-third of injuries takes place at home. This study was conducted to determine the epidemiology of home injuries in Kashan, Iran. In this descriptive study, 2400 Kashanian families were included. The questioners were filled via telephone interviews. The questionnaire was included variables such as time, place, type, treating the final condition of the injuries and the related factors. Every fortnight, 100 phone numbers were randomly dialed and in the case of a home accident the questionnaires were filled. Two-hundred out of the total 2400 contacted Kashanian families, (included 10809 cases), had a history of home injury. Annual incidence rate for Kashanian families was 52.8%. Home injury incidence was 36.1% and 63.9% for men and women, respectively. The age range for most of the injured was 11-20 years. Most of the injuries (57%), especially for women, were occurred in the morning (39.9%) and at kitchen (44.1%). The most prevalent injuries were incision (31.9%) and burns (27%), respectively. Most of the injuries (66.1%) had been self-treated at home with no medical intervention. However, home injuries accompanied by fracture and dislocation had the highest rate of referral to the hospitals (9.5%). While this study showed that the types of home injuries in Kashan were similar to those reported in other Iranian studies, the prevalence rate was different.