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Characteristics of Intentional Assault Injuries in Canadian Children Aged 10-17

This pilot study examines intentional assault injuries in children aged 10-17 in Canada, aiming to understand the patterns, causes, and demographics of these injuries. The study combines quantitative emergency department data with qualitative interviews to gather comprehensive information. Findings suggest that most assaults occur in schools, involve known assailants, and are associated with verbal conflicts. Recommendations for further research and interventions are provided.

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Characteristics of Intentional Assault Injuries in Canadian Children Aged 10-17

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  1. A PILOT STUDY ON INTENTIONAL ASSAULT INJURIES IN CHILDREN AGES 10 TO 17 YEARS, IN CANADA Project Team: Fahra Rajabali, MSc Mhairi Nolan, RN Lise Olsen, BSN, MPH, PhD (cand.) Guanghong Han, PhD Mariana Brussoni, PhD Dorry Smith, MPH Canadian Injury Prevention & Control Conference Halifax, NS November 1, 2005

  2. Project objectives • Understand the characteristics and patterns of intentional physical assault injuries among children and youth aged 10 to 17 years • Identify how and why the assaults occurred • Examine relevant demographic variables of the assault victims

  3. Why this came about • Intentional Injury Among Children and Youths at BC Children’s Hospital 1997-2001 (CHIRPP poster) • Majority of intentional injuries were assault-related (39.5%) • More males than females (79.7%) • 10-14 year olds (n=131) • Friday (52%) and Tuesday (45%)

  4. Methods • Integrated two different methodologies of research; quantitative and qualitative • Quantitative approach: • Aimed at better understanding the risk factors such as age, sex, location, etc. • Data from emergency departments (CHIRPP) • Qualitative approach: • Gather in-depth interview data from youth • Obtain a fuller account of the events leading up to the assault

  5. Quantitative Methods • Emergency department data • 14 hospitals in CHIRPP • Years 1998-2002 • Included • Siblings, cousins, peers • All sports • Excluded • Parents, relatives or caregivers, • Police, teachers and security officers

  6. Quantitative Methods • Emergency department data • Frequencies and percentages • Age, sex, location, cause, nature, body part, mechanism of injury, weapons, alcohol involvement and treatment • Chi-square and test for proportions • Test for the significance of any differences between groups and proportions in the distribution

  7. Qualitative Methods • Interview data • Open-ended qualitative interviews • Interview criteria • Between 10 and 17 years • Presenting to B.C. Children’s Hospital Emergency Department in 2002 • Provided written permission to be contacted for follow-up • 7 agreed to be interviewed • CHIRPP form coded for physical assault

  8. Qualitative Methods • Interview data • Interviews were audio-taped – with permission • Participants described the incident in their own words • Interview data • Analyzed using thematic analysis (Boyatzis, 1998) • NVivo software - used to assist with the coding process, organization of the data and identified themes

  9. Quantitative Findings • Weekdays - 12:00pm - 1:00pm (14.3%) 3:00pm - 4:00pm (12.5%) • Weekend - 8:00pm – 10:00pm (22.1%) • Activity when assaulted -quarrel, aggression, fight or riot (55.9%)

  10. Place of Injury Occurrence

  11. Type of Weapon Used

  12. Quantitative Findings • Alcohol/drug related - common among males and youth aged 15-19 years (4.3%) • Most common body part injured: • Head/neck(66.4%) • required treatment, a short observation stay in the emergency room or transferred to another hospital

  13. Qualitative Findings • Most occurred in schools - after class and when unsupervised • In several of the assaults - there had been previous conflicts, arguments or verbal intimidation between the students • Some students - knew the assailant (classmates) • Non school assaults – random attacks

  14. Qualitative Findings • Help received - from friends, parent, coach, teachers and adult supervisors • Bystanders - Their lack of action was quite notable in this set of interviews • Weapons used were scissors, screwdriver and bottle

  15. Limitations • The hospitals participating in CHIRPP are not uniformly distributed across the country, therefore, the data are not representative of all regions in Canada. • Complete accuracy and consistency of data cannot be assumed • The small sample size for the interviews. • The time lag between the assault and the interview

  16. Recommendations for Additional Research • School program and policies • Role of bystanders • Role of physical environment • Perception from family, peers and teachers • Gender issues • Perpetrator demographics and circumstances • Characteristics of different assault situations and their outcomes • Sport-related assault considered separately

  17. Thank you

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