Socio-Demographic and Behavioral Factors Related to Unintentional Injuries in Preschool Children Diagnosed to Have Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Abstract

Objective: Unintentional injuries are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in preschool children. The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors related to unintentional injuries in preschool children diagnosed to have attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Method: This study included 237 preschool children diagnosed to have ADHD, aged 4–5 years, recruited from a child psychiatry outpatient clinic. Diagnoses of ADHD in the children were made by child psychiatrists, according to DSM-IV criteria. A form developed by the researchers was completed by receiving information from parents regarding unintentional injury histories of the children, their socio-demographic information, and a family history of psychiatric disorders, developmental problems, and the presence of chronic health conditions. Behavioral problems of the children were assessed using the Child Behavior Checklist/4-18 (CBCL). Results: Of the preschool children diagnosed to have ADHD examined in this study, 19.8% (n=47) had unintentional injuries; 17% (n=8) of the children who experienced unintentional injuries had multiple unintentional injuries; 68.1% of accidents occurred at home and 32.9% occurred outside of the home. The regression analysis conducted in this research revealed that male gender, higher CBCL externalizing scores, and separation of parents were associated with unintentional injuries in preschool children diagnosed to have ADHD. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that prevention activities for unintentional injuries in children with ADHD should be initiated in the preschool period. Early implementation of protective measures regarding accidents may provide benefits for preschool children diagnosed to have ADHD that extend into adolescence and adulthood.