A profile of injuries in four villages in the Jasin District of Malacca, Malaysia

Injuries are a major public health problem in Malaysia. A cross-sectional study on the profile of injuries was conducted in four villages in the Jasin District of Malacca using a prepared questionnaire among the residents. A sample of 199 households was selected from the total of 385 by using the simple random method and personal interviews were carried out. Injuries were common (56%) among the family members within the period of one year prior to the survey. Home and residential injuries were the most common type (60.2%) followed by road traffic injuries and injuries at work place. Among the home injuries (68 cases), falls were the most common type of injuries encountered with most occurring in the evenings within the house compounds. For all types of injuries (113 cases), the majority (46.9%) preferred to seek treatment at government clinics and hospitals. Among the road injuries (29 cases), most occurred in the evenings and at nights. They were more severe in nature and some required admission to the hospital. The extremities were the most severe injuries among the home and road ones. Preventive strategies should be targeted towards the home and road injuries by environmental and behavioural changes together with community participation on injury prevention and control at district level.