Accidental morbidity in adolescents: a retrospective study in 12-15-year-old schoolchildren in Switzerland

Mortality and morbidity from injuries in the adolescent population is subst antial in Switzerland as all over the world. The estimation of morbidity fr om injuries is difficult and depends on the design of the study. Little inf ormation is available on morbidity between ages 12 and 15. The Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children (HBSC) study is an internation al survey based on a self-administered questionnaire for which the Swiss In stitute for Prevention of Alcohol and Drug Problems (SIPA) is responsible i n Switzerland. 7196 schoolchildren aged 12 to 15 participated in the 1998 s urvey. Questions covered subjects such as health and health behaviour. A fe w questions covered injuries, with reference to frequency, context and cons equences. 45.3 % of adolescents have been treated at least once by a nurse or a docto r for an injury during the past 12 months. It can be deduced that nearly 14 9 000 adolescents aged between 12 and 15 are injured in more than 260 000 a ccidents in Switzerland. The rate of injury is 793 per 1000 adolescents per year. Furthermore, one adolescent out of ten injures himself three times o r more per year. In conclusion, morbidity due to injuries in adolescents aged 12 to 15 in Sw itzerland is therefore considerable. This study demonstrates the high preva lence of repeated injuries in adolescents.