Caregivers’ Perception of Unintentional Child and Adolescent Injuries in Enugu, Nigeria

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DOI: 10.4236/ojped.2019.93021    547 Downloads   1,164 Views  

ABSTRACT

Background: Injury is an increasing cause of childhood morbidity and mortality globally. Purpose: The objective of the study was to evaluate caregivers’ perception of unintentional child and adolescent injuries in Enugu. Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study. Data were collected from caregivers of children attending the children’s outpatients’ unit of the hospital during the period of the study, who were selected consecutively using semi-structured interviewer administered questionnaire. Data were analysed using SPSS version 20.0. The level of statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: A total of 728 caregiver-child pairs were interviewed, out of which 526 (72.3%) recalled history of injuries in their wards within the past 12months. Most of the injuries occurred at home (334; 63.5%), in males 329 (62.5%), and in the 1 - 4 years age group 239 (45.4%). On further analysis, age of the child, male sex, residence in rural area and stage of child’s development significantly predicted the risk of having an unintentional injury. Majority of the interviewees had heard of first aid (432; 59.3%) though only a few 23 (5.4%) actually owned well equipped first aid boxes. Most of the respondents felt that injuries in children were preventable, 429 (58.9%). However, a good number agreed that they needed clear education on preventive measures of childhood injuries, 485 (66.6%). Conclusion: Unintentional injuries occur commonly in children and are largely preventable. Appropriate health and environmental education is needed to reduce the rising incidence of injuries in children in our setting.

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Eke, C. , Igbokwe, O. and Onukwuli, V. (2019) Caregivers’ Perception of Unintentional Child and Adolescent Injuries in Enugu, Nigeria. Open Journal of Pediatrics, 9, 218-231. doi: 10.4236/ojped.2019.93021.
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