Supportive Strategies Regarding Accidents Prevention for Mothers of Children Under Five Years Old

Abstract

Accidental injuries are a major health problem in children. They are the most common cause of death in children under five years of age. Every year they leave many thousands permanently disabled or disfigured. Most of cases at risk from a home accident are the 0-4 year’s age group.  Most of these accidents are preventable through increased awareness, improvements in the home environment and greater product safety. A pre/post quasi experimental design was adopted in the current study. A convenient sample of 100 mothers was included in this study. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of supportive strategies regarding accident prevention on mothers’ knowledge and practice of their children under five years old. The study was conducted in Cairo University Specialized Pediatric Hospital and Benha University Hospital from the pediatric out patients departments. Tools of data collection were socio-demographic data sheet for mothers and their children, history of accidents, questionnaire sheet regarding to mothers’ knowledge about accidents as well as mothers’ reported practices regarding accidents. The study's results revealed that more than half of the children (55%) were male. There were significant differences between pre and post supportive strategy in mothers’ knowledge and reported practices. Mothers’ knowledge and practices in prevention of falling and drowning, electrical shock, burn, and   suffocation, was affected by their age and education, and child’s age (P value is 0.00, 0. 05). The study recommended that supportive strategies for accidents prevention should be applied in all pediatric care settings.  Health promotion programs should be directed to prevent and control of accidents among children.

Key words: Accidents Prevention; Children under Five Years;   Supportive Strategies