Prevalence, Types and Risk factors of Non Fatal Injuries among Secondary School Students in Abha City- KSA

Abstract: Background: Injury in developing and transitional economies is an important public health problem. Indeed, injury accounts for 9 % of global mortality, with the majority of these injury deaths occurring in lower- and middle-income countries, result in both social and economic loss. Increased availability of motor vehicles is likely to raise the risk of traffic injuries. The inexperience and ongoing neurodevelopment of adolescents might leave them vulnerable to some health risks associated with economic change. The World Health Organization defines injuries as “the physical damage that results when a human body is suddenly subjected to energy in amounts that exceed the threshold of physiological tolerance – or else the result of a lack of one or more vital elements, such as oxygen”. The risk factors for injury vary depending upon its type. The majority of assaults involve younger people. Risks of both unintentional and intentional injury have been shown to be related to socioeconomic status, with those at the greatest risk living in the most deprived areas. Objectives:1) To calculate injury rates among male secondary school students, 2)To Identify the types of injuries and 3)To Identify possible risk factors associated with injuries. Subjects And Methods:This study followed a cross-sectional design. It was conducted in Abha City. 829 male secondary school students studying at a general governmental secondary school in Abha City were included in the study. Results: The prevalence of non-fatal injuries among male secondary school students was 49%.The Places of the majority of nonfatal injuries were streets (89.9%) while schools and homes were reported by 4.2 % and 1.2 % of the students.Students who have more than five brothers were at 7.6 folded risk of having non-fatal injuries as compared to thos