[01] Altheeb A. A. S., School and Educational Institutions Health Unit, Health Affars Department, Primary Health Care Services Sector, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai, UAE. [02] Hussein H., School and Educational Institutions Health Unit, Health Affars Department, Primary Health Care Services Sector, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai, UAE. [03] Al Faisal W., School and Educational Institutions Health Unit, Health Affars Department, Primary Health Care Services Sector, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai, UAE. [04] Al Behandy N. S., School and Educational Institutions Health Unit, Health Affars Department, Primary Health Care Services Sector, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai, UAE. [05] Alshareef N., School and Educational Institutions Health Unit, Health Affars Department, Primary Health Care Services Sector, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai, UAE. [06] Wasfy A., Statistics and Research Department, Ministry of Health, Dubai, UAE.

Background: Child injuries are an important public health and development issue. According to a recent report by WHO and UNICEF, more than 2000 child die each day as a result of unintentional or accidental injuries. Death is the most notable measure of injury but it’s not the only one or the most common one. Objectives: To study the case characteristics, environmental features and risk of severity of unintentional injuries among student at private schools in Dubai. Methodology: Cross-sectional study was conducted on students of grade 7 – 12 both males and females in Dubai’s private schools. Sample size was calculated using computer program EPI-Info version 6.04. The minimal sample size is 1000 student. Multistage stratified random sample with proportional allocation was carried out. The data was collected by a self-administered questionnaire composed of 32 items. Results: the total incidence rate among all school students were 297.7/1000. 88.9% of the injuries were mild, 9.0% were moderate and 2.1% were severe injuries. 851 cases occurred later in day time, 89% of them were mild, 9% moderate and only 2% were severe. Most of the injuries (686) occurred in the first semester. Most of the injuries (744) were caused by the injured student himself. Almost 80% of injuries occurred in fine weather. Almost half of all injuries occurred in the playground. School safety was the most frequent cause (364) of injury occurrence in the study sample. Falls accounted for almost half of the injuries Conclusion: The incidence of unintentional injuries is high, but severe cases are minority. Factors that may contribute to severity are the student himself, the playground and falls. Health education and school environment need to be given more importance in the planning for prevention programs.

Risk of Severity, Accidental Injuries, Schools, Dubai

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