Abstract

Under-five children are at high risk for many accidents such as burn, fall, accidental poisoning and drowning, 65% of injuries occur around the home.

Unfortunately, low- and middle-income countries in sub-Saharan Africa where Cameroon is inclusive bear the biggest burden of child accidents and injuries. Thus, this study sought to investigate mothers’ knowledge and predisposing factors on home accidents to children less than 5 years in The Molyko Community.

Specifically, the study sought to determine the prevalence of home-based accidents among children less than 5 years in the Molyko Community, to determine the level of knowledge of mothers on the causes and risks factors of the home accident and to find out some of the possible measures used by mothers in the prevention of home accidents in children less than five years.

In order to achieve these objectives, the study employed a descriptive study design, using simple and convenient sampling techniques to sample 100 mothers by means of a structure questionnaire.

The study findings revealed that the prevalence of home accidents was high (93.3%), mostly reported being falls, cuts and burns, most domestic accidents were caused by a lack of supervision, accidental swallowing of objects, covering the head with a blanket, accidental touching of hot water or soup, touching of hot cooking utensils, accidental swallowing of drugs, and swallowing of detergents.

Parental variables that lead to home accidents include poor working circumstances, a lack of someone to oversee children at home, the availability of toys, and children playing in the kitchen. Standing water, chemical substances, slick carpets, lamps, cables, frames framed with the glass within the child’s reach, stairs or steps without handrails. Measures employed to ensure children’s safety included keeping chemicals and medicines away from children, and ensuring children do not play where other activities are being carried out.

However, parents did not inspect the mechanical conditions of children playing with toys, did not cover potholes and side rail at high heights, and did not ensure that adults take care of the young rather than their siblings who may also be vulnerable and inadequate in providing child protection and child safety.

To reduce home accidents in under-five, health education of the community about child-friendly environment, the emphasis being put on the type of play and leisure areas of children, as emphasizing on every stakeholders’ responsibility in ensuring child-friendly environment children safety.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background

Childhood injuries are one of the important public health problems which result in substantial morbidity and mortality (Peden and Oyegbite, 2008). Childhood accidents and injuries is a global problem, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Deaths due to home accidents in under five years children were 3.4 times higher in such countries compared to their developed counterparts.  In 2013 alone, 324,000 children from 0-59 months are estimated to have succumbed to home accidents and injuries worldwide (Xiong, 2017).

Injury is defined as the physical damage to the human body on exposure to an excessive amount of force that is beyond the physiological threshold of tolerance. An injury that is not caused to harm purposely or intentionally is known as an unintentional injury. It includes injuries caused by traffic accidents, falls, burns, drowning, sport-related injuries, poisoning and suffocation (Chen et al., 2007).

Unintentional injuries are reported to be the most common mechanism of childhood injuries, a large proportion of these injuries occur in or around the home (Sleet, 2018). Preschool children are highly susceptible to injury at home because they are excited to explore their environment and are unable to perceive the risks, leaving them at risk of injury that leads to death and disabilities (Eldosoky, 2018).

A quick and appropriate first aid in childhood emergencies can be life‑saving and also improve the child’s health outcome. The likelihood of a child being injured is associated with a variety of factors including low education among mothers, very young mothers, poor housing, large family size and parental drug or alcohol abuse (Thein et al., 2005).

The common mechanisms of home injury are falls, cut wounds, fire and burns, choking, suffocation, drowning, poisoning and firearms. Falls account for the majority of non-fatal home injuries while the highest numbers of deaths are due to fire.

The largest number of accidents happens in the living room. However, the most serious accidents happen in the kitchen and on the stairs. Most home injuries happen where there’s water in the bathroom, kitchen, or hot tubs. Heat or flames: in the kitchen or at a barbecue grill. Toxic substances: under the kitchen sink, in the medicine cabinet, or even in a purse or other place where medications are stored. Potential for a fall: fall from bed, sofa or crib on stairs, slippery floors, from high windows, or from tipping furniture (Morrison and Stone, 2009).

Accordingly, as a child cannot protect himself/herself from accidents, it is the responsibility of adults to provide a safe environment, to take protective measures and to audit the safety of living spaces of children (Akturk and Erci, 2016).

Parents’ knowledge and practice about first aid measures are especially important in the prevention of deaths due to home injuries and improving patient outcomes in general. First aid is the provision of initial care for an illness or injury, usually by a non-expert but a trained person, until medical treatment can be accessed. Provision of immediate first aid to patients who require emergency care can make a big difference to the outcome (Kendrick et al., 2007).

1.2 Statement of the problem

Injuries related to home accidents are gradually becoming health problems in our communities. It is argued that although home accidents are unexpected and unintentional, mothers feel remorseful when they occur. Yet, when they occur, it does not take away the shameful feelings of these mothers (Olutayo, 2013).

Under-five children are at high risk for many accidents such as burn, fall, accidental poisoning and drowning. Studies in four low-income countries found that 65% of childhood burns had occurred in and around the home. WHO’s a report about childhood injuries stated that injuries among under-five children increase with age between one to five years (Khasnabis, 2009).

Household mishaps are a major cause of accidental death in many countries. The frequency and severity rate of accidents vary from country to country and home to home. Home accident destroys the health, lives and independence of many Nigerians, yet home accident prevention receives little or no attention.

In many situations, children are continually exposed to danger and passive protection will never be enough. Protection must therefore be built in to help the child fight off these dangers. Again, the child himself must be made acquainted with the risk or dangers he faces as well as measures to avoid attracting unnecessary risk. Lesperance et al. (2007) observed that most injuries can be prevented and that people tend to blame their injuries on «accidents. » According to the author, the cause of most accidents is the result of predictable and preventable occurrences.

The most important risk factors reported for home injury include living in unsafe homes, low socioeconomic status, and mothers’ low knowledge and inappropriate attitudes. Several studies have evaluated the role of parents’ preventive measures in decreasing the incidence of home injuries (Tsoumakas et al., 2009; Morrongiello et al., 2004).

A study performed in 14 European countries has shown that the most important obstacle for adopting preventive measures is the inability of mothers to take continuous care of their children, followed by poor knowledge and inappropriate attitude about factors involved in injuries.

Many researchers have placed great emphasis on motivations and obstacles faced by mothers to adopt preventive measures of home accidents. However, the exact role of the majority of these factors is still unknown. Although valuable efforts have been made to recognize such factors, the results have been different and even contradictory due to cultural, social, regional difference.

In Cameroon, there is little known about the knowledge, attitude and perception of the mother on the preventive measures available for home accidents. Data on the home accident are not easy to come by, they are very scanty more so, an extensive review by previous researchers e.g., scholars has failed to find any study that examines the prevalence, sources and consequences of a home accident in Cameroon generally and in Buea Municipality in particular.

1.3 Research Questions

1.3.1 Main Research Question

What is the prevalence and factors associated with home accidents among children less than 5 years in the Buea Municipality?

1.3.2 Specific Research Questions

1. What is the prevalence of home-based accidents among children less than five years in the Buea Municipality?
2. What is the level of knowledge of mothers on the causes of home accidents among children less than 5 years in the Molyko Community?
3. What is the mother’s knowledge of the risk factors associated with home accidents among children less than 5 years in the Molyko Community?
4. What are the possible measures used by mothers in preventing home accidents in children?