Abstract

Views and perceptions of rural (Ugandan elementary school) children and teachers regarding epidemiology (extent, risk, determinants, prevention), and management of childhood injuries were explored using FGDs and KII. Respondents thought childhood injuries and violations are common life experiences in North Western Uganda, linking them to contextual trends in staple food supply, social events, and sports. The contextual factors are thought to interact with individual, parental and situational variables to occasion the childhood and adolescent injury and violation patterns in North-western Uganda. The importance attached to injuries as community health concerns seemed to depend on the cause; in this regard, traffic injuries were viewed as most important concerns. Fatalistic thought was exhibited most with regard to those injuries viewed as most important. Local prevention and control resources and strategies do exist, most on ‘victim blame template’, which is known to be ineffective. Injury specific management strategies also exist; some of them are not ‘evidence based’ as understood in current scientific context but could be backed by local knowledge or rooted in indigenous practices as relate to community survival and coping strategies and mechanisms. Some of them could be harmful; rigorous profiling and review is recommended. Pre-hospital care training for elementary school teachers, caregivers (including parents) and other community resource persons is also recommended. Safer methods of mango harvesting, (grasshopper) hunting and sports need to be promoted. Child labour, corporal punishment, illicit drugs, fist fighting and sexual violation should be prioritised for prevention. Quantitative assessment of the childhood and adolescent injury and violation problem in Yumbe, North-western Uganda is recommended.