Abstract
BackgroundSpring cleaning is a popular tradition in Iran as well as in many other countries. The purpose of our study was to determine the pattern and compare the incidence of spring cleaning related injuries in Tehran, in the years 2007 and 2008.MethodsIn the year 2007, a household survey was performed in Tehran by random cluster sampling. The survey was repeated in May 2008 with the same clusters and starting points, but different households. The incidence of spring cleaning related injuries, the age and sex of injured person(s), the mechanism, type and cost of injuries were recorded through semi-structured interviews. The incidence rates of injuries and injuries leading to health visits (severe) according to sex and age groups were calculated. Data were analyzed using SPSS and STATA statistical softwares.ResultsThe incidence of all and severe spring cleaning related injuries were 3.8 (3.0 - 4.8) and 1.6 (1.1-2.3) per 1000, respectively. The most common mechanisms of injuries were falls, followed by cutting and lifting heavy objects or overexertion. Falls were also the main mechanism of severe injuries. The most common injuries were open wounds, followed by superficial injuries (including contusions) and sprain and strain. Among severe injuries, the most frequent injuries were open wounds and contusions, followed by dislocations. The injuries were most common among women with an incidence of about 8.4 per 1000 in women older than 18 years of age (severe injuries: 3.4 per 1000 (2.2-5.1)).ConclusionThe incidence of spring cleaning related injuries is high enough to raise concern in health system authorities. It could be estimated that about 23,927 to 38,283 persons get injured during the spring cleaning in Tehran at the beginning of every Persian new year. In addition, about 8,773-18,344 of these cases are expected to be severe enough to lead to medical attention (considering 7,975,679 as the population of Tehran at the time of study). Improving awareness of families, especially young women, regarding the scope and importance of spring cleaning safety can be suggested as the first population-based strategy to decrease the incidence of these injuries.
Highlights
Spring cleaning is a popular tradition in Iran as well as in many other countries
Previous studies have shown that home can be an important setting for unintentional injuries especially for children, women, and elderly who spend a considerable time at home [2,3,4,5,6]
There are no published papers regarding the scope and burden of spring cleaning injuries. As these injuries occur at home, their recognition highlights the importance of safety at home
Summary
Spring cleaning is a popular tradition in Iran as well as in many other countries. The purpose of our study was to determine the pattern and compare the incidence of spring cleaning related injuries in Tehran, in the years 2007 and 2008. A good spring cleaning often means climbing, lifting heavy objects and using strong cleaning solutions [1] which can all potentially lead to serious injuries. This means that a large proportion of population is exposed to the risk of injury in a rather short period of time. There are no published papers regarding the scope and burden of spring cleaning injuries As these injuries occur at home, their recognition highlights the importance of safety at home. A survey performed by the national nonprofit Home Safety Council in the United States showed that only six percent of adults recognized the increased risk for home injuries during the spring as compared with other seasons, leaving the vast majority of people in danger [7]
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