ACCIDENT RISKS FOR SUBURBAN PRESCHOOL JORDANIAN CHILDREN

This exploratory investigation of child accidents in suburban Jordan 1 988-1991 indicated that children were daily exposed to fire, drugs, an d chemical agents, and played in dangerous places. Children under 2 ye ars of age were frequently burned, and those slightly older injured th rough falls and cuts. Boys were more accident-prone than girls in acco rdance with practically all previous world-wide studies. The overall a ccident picture was similar to European reports from 50 years ago. Man y environmental hazards could be explained as being a consequence of r elative poverty, but parent's awareness of accident risks for children was low, even among well educated people. Strategies to diminish acci dent risks for pre-school children are suggested.