An reference for public health practitioners and policy-makers in developing and industrialized nations, this book offers detail on the circumstances of injury and the opportunities for prevention in a variety of settings. It describes approaches to injury control, surveillance methods, and preventive measures that are applicable.
Throughout the world, injuries are the leading cause of death for young adults, adolescents, and children. Injury death and hospitalization are also high among the elderly. With the improved prevention and treatment of infectious and degenerative diseases, the importance of injuries as a
debilitating factor has rapidly increased around the world. Better living conditions have decreased the number of some types of injuries--such as drownings and burns--but the proliferation of new, high-energy vehicles, machinery, and weapons has offset this trend by significantly increasing the
number of other types of injuries.
This book documents the nature and magnitude of the problem and provides basic approaches to injury prevention. Injury statistics are supplied for many developing countries and indigenous populations as well as for industrialized nations. Important differences among countries and cultures affecting
the types and circumstances of injury are illustrated in tables and figures that present extensive data and greatly enhance the book's usefulness. The many types of injuries covered in detail include those related to traffic, falls, burns, drowning, poisoning, animal and insect bites, envenomations,
occupation, disasters, suicide, and homicide.
The authors take a methodologic approach to the analysis of the health impact, circumstances, and costs of injuries. They detail the costs and health impact of injuries, as well as the role of health services in injury prevention. They describe surveillance methods and effective preventive measures
that can be implemented relatively easily even in countries with limited resources. Reflecting the authors extensive experiencein injury prevention in a variety of countries, this book will help readers understand this major health problem, the changes that could reduce it, and the means of
influencing crucial public policies. Succinct and practical, Injury Prevention is intended for public he
'...a landmark addition to a remarkably small shelf of texts about this subject...coherent, well organised, and well written...I judge the book a great success because it is difficult to imagine readers, even among the cognoscenti, who are not better informed after a careful read...There is no better compendium and no more thoughtful presentation of this modern epidemic...'
