Repeated self-reported injuries and substance use among young adolescents: the case of Switzerland.

Abstract

The prevalence of repeated self-reported injuries among adolescents between 12 and 15 years of age and the association with the use of alcohol, drugs, and intense sporting activity are described. A Swiss national representative sample of 7196 adolescents completed a questionnaire in 1998. They were asked about their use of alcohol and drugs and whether they had suffered injuries requiring medical attention in the preceding 12 months. "Repeated injuries" were defined as three or more reported injuries. 46.8% males and 43.8% females reported one or more injury in the previous 12 months. Ten percent of the males and 8.6% of the females reported repeated injuries. Regular use of alcohol (odds ratio (OR): 1.55, confidence interval (CI): 1.23-1.96), drunkenness (OR: 1.73, CI: 1.34-2.22) use of illegal drugs (for 14 and 15 year-olds, OR: 1.84, CI: 1.05-3.23) and intense sporting activity (OR: 1.59, CI: 1.31-1.93) were risk factors for repeated injuries whilst gender was not (OR: 0.99, CI: 0.81-1.20). The occurrence of repeated injuries is frequent among adolescents, and is associated with use of alcohol, illegal drugs, and intense sporting activity.