Assessment of knowledge and practice of mothers toward home accidents among children under six years in rural areas in Assiut governorate (2003)‎

الملخص EN

Accidents are the largest single cause of death after the age of one year and are one of the most serious health problems facing the world today.

They are the most common cause of hospital admission and can result in life long disability.

Community health nurses are often ideally placed to offer advice about home safety.

The aims of this study were to assess mothers’ knowledge and practice toward home accidents among children under six years and to determine the prevalence rate of home accidents among children under six years.

The present study has been carried out in Elwan and El-Masra villages in Assiut Governorate and the sample was included 200 mothers from Alwan village and 400 mothers from El-Masra village and those mothers must had children under six years.

A structured questionnaire sheet was developed by the researcher to collect data A systematic random sampling approach was followed in this study, where every fifth home was visited in Alwan village and every tenth home was visited in El-Masra village and collection of data was performed by interviewing each mother on her home.

The main results obtained from the study were as follows: most of mothers were in the age group 25 to less than 35 years and nearly all home had at least two potential environmental hazards.

The present study revealed that the incidence of home accidents was (50.3 %), wounds were the commonest types of home accidents (37.4 %).

And shows highly statistical difference between mother's knowledge and age and between mother's knowledge and education, about three-quarters (74.5 %) of mothers had incomplete knowledge regarding home accidents among their children.

According to mothers’ practice in different types of home accidents the present study indicated that the majority of mothers (93.2 %, 92.7 % respectively) would go to health facilities in case of scorpion stings and animal bites.

The present study recommended health classes about causes of home accidents, first aid, prevention and safe housing condition for mothers at MCH center, in service educational program toward first aid should be established for community health nurses at rural health units and MCH center, a well-planned health education program about causes of home accidents, first aid, and prevention introduce to the curriculum at preparatory school, secondary school and university levels.