Prevention of childhood injuries

Trauma has always accompanied humankind, but has only been recognised as a significant health issue for the last half a century. In South Africa (SA), the burden of trauma has been described as unprecedented, with an estimated 3.5 million people seeking healthcare for non-fatal injuries annually. Children, representing an estimated 40% of the SA population, are a vulnerable group. The impact of childhood trauma, whether intentional (through interpersonal violence, homicide or suicide) or unintentional (especially through road traffic crashes, drowning, burns, poisoning or falls), has become a major health and social problem. Childhood injuries may impact hugely on childhood health in terms of disability and, depending on their cause, circumstances and severity, and have grim psychological, educational, social and economic consequences.