Abstract
BackgroundBaby walkers (BWs) are frequent causes of infant injuries. Little research is reported from the Middle East and few population-based studies anywhere.MethodsUsing multistage random sampling in a city of the United Arab Emirates, 4 of 8 female Arab government high schools and 3 final-year classes each from science and arts tracks were selected. Structured self-administered questionnaires assessed prevalence, frequency, severity, and external causes of BW incidents and injuries, and residential hazards.ResultsResponse was 100 %, 696 students, 55 % (n = 385) Emirati citizens. 87 % (n = 605) of families used/had used BWs. Among 646 injuries were 118 ER (emergency) visits, 42 hospitalizations, 11 disabilities, and 3 deaths. Average risk was 1 incident/user, 1 injury/4 users, 1 ER visit/20, 1 hospitalization/55, 1 disability/200, 1 death/1000. Odds ratios for >1:1 floor levels were 2.3 (95 % confidence interval: 1.2, 4.3) for hospitalization, 16.8 (95 % CI: 2.1, 132.5) disability. Incidents included hitting objects 48 % (n = 1322), overturning 23 % (n = 632), accessing hazardous objects 17 % (n = 473), and falling down stairs 11 % (n = 300); 1 % (n = 32) fell into swimming pools. In 49 % (n = 297/605) of user families, ≥1 child had been injured.ConclusionsDespite causing many injuries including disabilities and fatalities, BWs were used by nearly all families. Governments should consider Canada’s lead in prohibiting importation, sales, and advertising of BWs.
Highlights
Baby walkers (BWs) are frequent causes of infant injuries
Despite existing voluntary standards in the United States to prevent falls down stairs, such as presence of brakes and minimum width, not all manufacturers are members of the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) and receive a safety product certification from JPMA (American Academy of Pediatrics 2001)
In a first article we reported the knowledge and attitudes of future mothers on perceived safety, reasons for initiating and stopping use, and support for legislation banning BWs (Grivna et al 2015)
Summary
Baby walkers (BWs) are frequent causes of infant injuries. Prevalence studies in various countries indicate that this product is used by between 20 and 90 % of parents, mainly for children about 5 to 14 months old (Al-Nouri and Al-Isami 2006; Health Canada 2007; Rodgers and Leland 2005; Santos Serrano et al 1996). Despite existing voluntary standards in the United States to prevent falls down stairs, such as presence of brakes and minimum width, not all manufacturers are members of the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) and receive a safety product certification from JPMA (American Academy of Pediatrics 2001). Speeds can be high enough to overcome brakes and incidents such as reaching dangerous objects are not affected by the standards (Health Canada 2002; Ridenour 1997)
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