Accidents in one region of Norway during a period of one year

Abstract

A study of accidents treated by the health service in the Stavanqer/ Sandnes region was carried out for the period 1/6-77 – 31/5-78. The population of the region was 195,000, 5 % of the population of Norway. The protocols of the polyclinics, the journals of the in-patients were studied and counts made within the primary health system. The largest group of accidents was, home and leisure time accidents — 63 %. Labour accidents represented 23 %, special accidents due to violence, animals and insects were 7 % and traffic accidents 7 %. The total number of all types of accident in the region during a period of one year was 26,500. Interviews were carried out on 5,231 patients from the home and leisure group. Analysis of the pattern and incidence rate of these accidents has been performed. An in-depth investigation of accidents involving burns and scalds and some playing accidents was carried out. Accidents are divided into three groups: Accidents caused by the fact that products and/or the surrounding environment have faulty design, accidents arising as a result of human behaviour and accidents which are unavoidable. The borders between these three groups are not clear cut.