Pediatric injury attendances in different population groups in Israel before, during, and after COVID‐19 lockdowns: a descriptive study, 2018–2022
Dublin Core
Title
Pediatric injury attendances in different population groups in Israel before, during, and after COVID‐19 lockdowns: a descriptive study, 2018–2022
Subject
Pediatric injuries, COVID-19, Lockdowns, Minorities, Younger children
Description
Background Lockdowns and quarantines during the COVID-19 pandemic influenced healthcare services’ usage pat-
terns such as emergency department (ED) attendance. During the pandemic, Israel issued three lockdowns (March–
May 2020, September–October 2020, and December 2020–February 2021) to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Little
is known about the impact of these lockdowns on ED attendance for injuries in the diverse population of Northern
Israel.
Methods We described patterns of ED attendance before, during, and after COVID-19 lockdowns. We extracted data
from medical records of all northern Israeli children aged 0–17 years old who attended Ziv Medical Center (ZMC)
emergency department (ED) due to injury, between 01/01/2018 and 10/02/2022. We compared the volume and char-
acteristics of ED attendance during lockdown periods to the same time periods in the 2 years before the pandemic
and 1 year after the lockdowns, using chi-square tests.
Results Seven thousand six hundred nineteen northern children attended ZMC ED during the time periods
of the study for injuries and were analyzed. Mean attendance numbers during lockdowns decreased compared
to previous years, with an increase in injuries proportion (67.8% (1502/2216) vs. 52.7% (2038/3868) p < 0.001). The
proportion of 0–4-year-olds attending for injuries during the lockdown increased compared to pre-pandemic (39.68%
vs. 30.7%, p < 0.0001). Minority population attendance decreased (27.47% vs. 30.71% p = 0.02). Hospitalization rates
increased (13.21% vs. 10.65% p = 0.01). Post-lockdown periods saw a return to the pre-pandemic age and ethnicity
distribution.
Conclusions Compared to previous years, the volume of injuries was lower during lockdowns for all ages, with a rela-
tive increase in the proportion of injuries among younger children attending the ED. A lower proportion of attend-
ance from minority groups suggests different health-seeking behavior patterns during emergencies compared
to the general population. Understanding these differences will help better plan for future emergencies.
Keywords Pediatric injuries, COVID-19, Lockdowns, Minorities, Younger children
terns such as emergency department (ED) attendance. During the pandemic, Israel issued three lockdowns (March–
May 2020, September–October 2020, and December 2020–February 2021) to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Little
is known about the impact of these lockdowns on ED attendance for injuries in the diverse population of Northern
Israel.
Methods We described patterns of ED attendance before, during, and after COVID-19 lockdowns. We extracted data
from medical records of all northern Israeli children aged 0–17 years old who attended Ziv Medical Center (ZMC)
emergency department (ED) due to injury, between 01/01/2018 and 10/02/2022. We compared the volume and char-
acteristics of ED attendance during lockdown periods to the same time periods in the 2 years before the pandemic
and 1 year after the lockdowns, using chi-square tests.
Results Seven thousand six hundred nineteen northern children attended ZMC ED during the time periods
of the study for injuries and were analyzed. Mean attendance numbers during lockdowns decreased compared
to previous years, with an increase in injuries proportion (67.8% (1502/2216) vs. 52.7% (2038/3868) p < 0.001). The
proportion of 0–4-year-olds attending for injuries during the lockdown increased compared to pre-pandemic (39.68%
vs. 30.7%, p < 0.0001). Minority population attendance decreased (27.47% vs. 30.71% p = 0.02). Hospitalization rates
increased (13.21% vs. 10.65% p = 0.01). Post-lockdown periods saw a return to the pre-pandemic age and ethnicity
distribution.
Conclusions Compared to previous years, the volume of injuries was lower during lockdowns for all ages, with a rela-
tive increase in the proportion of injuries among younger children attending the ED. A lower proportion of attend-
ance from minority groups suggests different health-seeking behavior patterns during emergencies compared
to the general population. Understanding these differences will help better plan for future emergencies.
Keywords Pediatric injuries, COVID-19, Lockdowns, Minorities, Younger children
Creator
Tomer Bernstine1*, Michael Edelstein1,2 and Danna Krupik1,3
Source
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12245-023-00565-2
Date
2023
Contributor
Peri Irawan
Format
pdf
Language
english
Type
text
Files
Collection
Citation
Tomer Bernstine1*, Michael Edelstein1,2 and Danna Krupik1,3, “Pediatric injury attendances in different population groups in Israel before, during, and after COVID‐19 lockdowns: a descriptive study, 2018–2022,” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed April 11, 2026, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/12237.