Biomedical subjects

K A Melinder

Publications and source records attributed to K A Melinder.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2001

The impact of structural factors on the injury rate in different European countries.

BACKGROUND: A previous study pointed to there being two kinds of injuries--those with a mainly social genesis and those with a mainly environmental genesis. The aim of this study was to analyse how socioeconomic factors--such as level of economic development, alcohol consumption and unemployment and more cultural factors--such as education and religion--relate to kinds of injury. METHODS: Motor vehicle traffic accidents were chosen to represent injuries with a predominantly environmental genesis and suicides those with a mainly social genesis. Qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) complemented by Pearson correlation was employed. The data come from 12 European countries. RESULTS: Four groups of countries emerged from the analysis. Group 1 was high on both kinds of injuries and was also high on all the independent variables considered. Group 2 was low on social injuries and high on environmental injuries; it had a low level of economic development, high alcohol consumption and a high proportion of Roman Catholics. Group 3 was high on social injuries and low on environmental injuries; it had a high level of economic development, low alcohol consumption and few Roman Catholics. Group 4 was low on both kinds of injuries; the independent variables formed a similar pattern to those of group 3. CONCLUSION: The pattern for traffic fatalities differs from that of suicides. There is also patterning with regard to structural factors; economic level, education and religion seem to be more important with regard to injury rate differentials than alcohol consumption or unemployment.

Accidents, Traffic↗

PubMed2000

Stable and dynamic differences in injury mortality between the Nordic countries. What do they say about inherent national characteristics with regard to risk?

The aim of this study was to analyse long-term trends and patterns in injury mortality between the Nordic countries and to distinguish differences that are relatively temporary from those that are more durable. Both total injury mortality and special subcategories were examined. Some stable similarities and differences were found. Two kinds of injuries are distinguished: those that largely have a social genesis and those to which environmental causality applies. The general pattern is that there has been an increase in injuries with a social genesis and a decrease in those with an environment-related genesis. Finland has high rates of both types of injuries. Denmark has high rates of injuries with a social genesis, but low rates of those with an environmental genesis. By contrast, Norway has high rates of injuries with an environmental genesis and low rates of those with a social genesis. Sweden has low or medium rates of both types of injuries.

Accidents↗

PubMed1998

Differences in injury mortality between the Nordic countries--with special reference to differences in coding practices.

The aims of the study are to analyse the incidence and patterns in injury mortality in the Nordic countries, and to assess the extent to which any differences found can be explained in terms of either variation in statistical validity or the existence of genuine differences. The study considers the entire injury panorama, and is performed between certain categories of injuries. Analysis is applied to all ages, and also to certain specific age categories. Finland appears as the Nordic country with the highest injury mortality. While examining potential source of errors, nothing was found to merit an adjustment of Finland's rate. All potential correction would bring the rates of the other Nordic countries closer to that of Finland. Poisoning was found to be a diagnosis that varies in application between the Nordic countries. Falling is the diagnosis with the greatest problems of sensitivity, and cannot be recommended for comparative purposes.

Adolescent↗