Socioeconomic status and injury risk in children

Research has consistently shown that low socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with an increased risk of poor health and death in adults and children. Studies from around the world have shown an inverse relationship between SES and childhood injury morbidity and mortality. For example, compared with children with high SES, children with low SES are at an increased risk of death from pedestrian collisions, fires, falls and drownings, and at an increased risk of hospitalization from recreation or play injuries. Research from England and Wales shows that these disparities in mortality between high and low SES children may be widening over time. This paper provides an overview of the literature on the relationship between SES and childhood injury morbidity and mortality, outlines the postulated mechanisms for this relationship, and highlights some intervention studies targeted to low SES children.