Methodological challenges in collecting and analysing data on child unintentional injuries: Insights from the CHILD Vigilance project (CHIVI) on parents’ attitudes and practices

Abstract

Abstract Injuries are among the top ten conditions affecting children according to WHO's latest evidence on years lived with disability. Despite this fact, EU countries are still missing strong information systems for enabling efficient response to the problem. Data on child unintentional injuries are still inconsistently collected in Europe due to substantial deficiencies in injury surveillance data as well as differences in coding systems and legal policies on reporting requirements. Apart from specific countries (e.g. Norway) there is no population-based monitoring of child unintentional injuries in Europe, while initiatives to collect EU-wide information on child unintentional injuries such as the Eurosafe study, seems to be scarce. Improving data availability will require greater investments in country health information systems, vital statistics systems, and household survey programmes. Technical advisory groups indicate the need to develop standard data collection procedures and ensure that indicators are harmonised across global initiatives. Building country capacity in collecting, analysing and increasing the use of child injury data for decision making at global, regional, and national levels, is important. The current presentation will discuss the methodological challenges identified in collecting and analysing data on child unintentional injuries based on the CHILD Vigilance project (CHIVI), which is being conducted in two countries (Portugal, Greece) under the umbrella of EUPHA INJ and aims at assessing parenting attitudes and supervision practices in children aged 0-14 years. Based on 577 valid responses, involving 890 children (53.1% male; 46.8% female) the study revealed major challenges in defining child unintentional injuries, identifying validated tools to accurately measure injuries and their impact on children as well as the challenges in defining the most appropriate determinants of child unintentional injuries.