A Mixed-method Study on Unintentional Injury amongst Adolescents Residing in the Rural Field Practice Area of Medical College, Kolkata, India

Abstract Background: Unintentional injuries are a global public health concern. Each year, unintentional injuries cause about 855,000 deaths in children and young adults. This study was conducted with objective to To find out the proportion of participants who suffered unintentional injury and to explore their perspectives regarding causes and ways of preventing unintentional injury. Materials and Methods: The mixed-method study amongst rural adolescents utilised simple random sampling for quantitative interviews (analysed via SPSS 21.0) and purposive sampling for qualitative focus group discussions. The manuscript was prepared in accordance with the Good Reporting of Mixed Methods Studies (GRAMMS) guidelines. Results: One hundred and eleven (73.02%) participants had suffered from unintentional injuries in the last year. Bruises were the most common form of injury and playgrounds were the most common site. Themes such as risk taking behaviour, carelessness and multitasking were the common causes. Infrastructural developments and personal prevention were the popular ways of prevention. Conclusion: The study revealed about three-fourths of the adolescents had suffered from unintentional injury and were mostly treated at home with no medical consultation.