Accidental childhood death in South Australia from 1963 to 1996

Abstract

This thesis provides an overview of accidental childhood death and reports original work analysing specific types of injuries, mechanisms of death and recommendations for the prevention of such fatalities. lt is based on a detailed review of 369 cases of childhood accidents taken from the records of the Women's & Children's Hospital Department of Histopathology over a 34 year period from 1963 to 1996. Given the range of the subject matter only certain areas have been selected for detailed examination; these include unsafe sleeping environments, unsafe eating practices, dangerous situations on farms and drowning. These were chosen following identification of significant child safety problems in these areas as a part of the 'Keeping Your lnfant and Child Safe' programme run by the author through the Department of Histopathology, Women's & Children's Hospital, Adelaide. Previously unrecognised dangers to children detected during this study include mesh-sided cots, 'V'shaped pillows and certain types of stroller-prams. ln addition, particular dangers associated with home swimming pools, cosleeping with adults, breast feeding and infant holding practices are described. Analyses of series of fatal cases are provided with clinicopathological features of individual cases where appropriate. A case report and review format has been used as this lends itself to the examination of particular problems that may occur with individual infants or children.