Pattern of domestic Accidents Among Children less Than Five Years in Mukono Municipality, Mukono district.

Abstract

Background This study to establish the pattern of domestic accidents among children aged less than 5 years was carried out in Mukono Municipality. The Specific Objectives of the study were: 1. To determine the socioeconomic factors associated with domestic accidents among children aged less than five years in Mukono Municipality. 2. To establish home environmental factors associated with domestic accidents in children below five years in Mukono municipality. 3. To determine the knowledge of parents/care takers about safety at home, in Mukono Municipality. Methodology This was a cross-sectional study with both qualitative and quantitative data collection using questionnaires and an observational checklist from a sample size of 242 respondents in Mukono Municipality. Results There was a significant relationship between level of education of the caretakers and family experiencing an accident. Homes with more than one child experienced more accidents than homes with only one child. There was no significant relationship between the type of residence and family experiencing an accident. Falls were the most frequent accidents in homes in Mukono municipality with 46% (111) of the respondents reporting this in the recent past. The number of children in a home was also significant with accidents as it was observed that majority of the families had more than two children had experienced a child domestic accident as compared to those that had one child. The majority of the Caretakers demonstratedhaving good knowledge about circumstances that could cause accidents in the home. Recommendations i. Parents/Guardians should empower maids with knowledge about accident prevention so that they safe guard the children from these accidents. ii. Parents/Guardians should educate their children (those at an age which can understand) about the various potential accident hazards and how to avoid them. iii. Home safety education sessions to address the issue of domestic accidents and how to do environmental re-designing to prevent most of these should be carried out by public health specialists in partnership with other stake holders for examples the local authorities. iv. Community based awareness programs on causes of accidents should be developed focused on how to reduce home accidents and first aid to be provided in case of accidents v. Caretakers need to be educated on the need to supervise children at home all the time in order to reduce the accidents. Areas for further research There is need to do more research on the practices of caretakers towards home accidents. It would also be of importance to assess whether there are any forms of disability as a result of these domestic accidents.