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Lalloo R Dent Traumatol 2003; 19: 12–14

Of 5913 children aged 4–15 yrs interviewed (parental interview for the younger ones) in the 1997 Health Survey for England, 700 reported major injury over the previous 6 months, and 232 of these were head injuries, with 80 involving the face and/or teeth.

Significant risk factors identified by regression analysis were hyperactivity (OR = 262 for borderline cases and 195 for high), and families where more than 1 child received social/financial benefit (185). Boys classed as hyperactive and from families receiving benefit had the highest risk (733).

The author considers that preventive strategies for such injuries should be related to the behavioural and emotional factors involved, along with any underlying socio-economic factors, and notes that the data did not include parental and traffic risk factors.