SCHOOL-INJURY PATTERNS - A TOOL FOR SAFETY PLANNING AT THE SCHOOL ANDCOMMUNITY LEVELS

This study analyses surveillance data on school injuries. Its aim is t o create a typology of injury characteristics and circumstances specif ically designed to elaborate safety strategies. Seven variables descri bing aspects of 1260 school injuries registered in a 1 year community survey were analysed simultaneously using, in sequence, the factorial analysis of correspondence (FAG) and the hierarchical ascendant classi fication (HAC). Relationships between injury pattern and injured pupil s' school grade and gender were measured. A typology comprising five i njury patterns was obtained and significant relationships were found b etween injury pattern and both school grade and gender. The constructi on of an injury typology by means of methods similar to those employed in the current study may prove of great benefit in the context of sch ool injury prevention. Such benefit might accrue to both decision-make rs concerned with setting of priorities and persons in this environmen t. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.