Haddon Matrix

Haddon Matrix

The Haddon Matrix is a conceptual framework developed by William Haddon Jr. in 1970 to analyze and prevent injuries. It is widely used in the field of public health, particularly in injury prevention and traffic safety. The matrix provides a systematic way to identify and evaluate the factors involved in an injury event, allowing for the development of effective prevention strategies.

Structure of the Haddon Matrix

The Haddon Matrix is structured as a grid with three rows and four columns. The rows represent the phases of an injury event, while the columns represent the factors that can influence the event. The matrix is as follows:

Phases

• Pre-event: The period before the injury occurs. This phase focuses on preventing the event from happening.
• Event: The moment when the injury occurs. This phase focuses on reducing the severity of the injury.
• Post-event: The period after the injury has occurred. This phase focuses on minimizing the consequences of the injury.

Factors

• Human: Factors related to the individuals involved, such as behavior, knowledge, and physical condition.
• Vehicle/Equipment: Factors related to the vehicles or equipment involved, such as design, maintenance, and safety features.
• Environment: Factors related to the physical and social environment, such as road conditions, weather, and cultural norms.
• Social/Economic: Factors related to the broader social and economic context, such as laws, regulations, and economic incentives.

Application of the Haddon Matrix

The Haddon Matrix is used to systematically analyze injury events and develop comprehensive prevention strategies. By considering each cell in the matrix, public health professionals can identify potential interventions at each phase and for each factor. For example, in the context of traffic safety, the matrix can be used to:

• Improve driver education and training (Human, Pre-event)
• Enhance vehicle safety features like airbags and seatbelts (Vehicle/Equipment, Event)
• Implement better road design and traffic signals (Environment, Pre-event)
• Enforce traffic laws and regulations (Social/Economic, Pre-event)

Advantages of the Haddon Matrix

The Haddon Matrix offers several advantages:

• It provides a comprehensive framework that considers multiple factors and phases of injury events.
• It encourages a multidisciplinary approach to injury prevention, involving experts from various fields.
• It helps identify gaps in current prevention strategies and areas for improvement.

Limitations of the Haddon Matrix

While the Haddon Matrix is a powerful tool, it has some limitations:

• It may oversimplify complex injury events by categorizing them into discrete phases and factors.
• It requires accurate data and information to be effective, which may not always be available.

Also see

• Injury prevention
• Traffic safety
• Public health
• William Haddon Jr.