Analysis of characteristics of unintentional injuries among hospitalized children and preventive strategies—based on adverse event data of a regional medical center in western China

Objective To analyze the characteristics of unintentional injuries among hospitalized children in a regional medical center in western China and to put forward preventive strategies. Methods The adverse event data of hospitalized children from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2024 in our hospital were collected retrospectively. A descriptive statistical analysis was performed on the types, occurrence time and place, age of children, and injury severity of 428 unintentional injuries. Results Among 428 cases of unintentional injuries, males predominated (63.3%). Children aged 1–3 years were most frequently affected (45.3%), followed by those under 1 year (34.8%). The most common injury types were treatment-related incidents (“Medical care”, 32.2%), falls from bed (25.9%), and mechanical forces (“EIMF”, 10.5%). Over half of injuries occurred during 12:00–24:00, with peaks at 18:00–24:00 (30.8%) and 12:00–18:00 (27.8%); most (90.2%) took place in wards. Age, time, and place were significantly associated with injury incidence ( p 0.05). No fatal (Level I) injuries occurred; most were mild (Level III), with severity significantly linked to injury sorts and place ( p 0.05). Limitations This study has several limitations, future research should adopt prospective, multi-center designs to validate these findings and develop targeted interventions for different healthcare settings. Conclusion Unintentional injuries among pediatric inpatients predominantly affect young children, especially males aged 1–3 years, and are closely linked to treatment procedures, environmental factors, and specific time periods. Most incidents are mild and occur in wards, highlighting the need for strengthened safety management in clinical settings, staff training during high-risk hours, and targeted parental education to mitigate preventable harm.