BRIEF RESEARCH ARTICLE
Perception of unintentional childhood injuries among mothers in rural South India
Leeberk Raja Inbaraj1, Anuradha Rose2, Kuryan George3, Anuratha Bose3
1 Consultant, Department of Community Health, Bangalore Baptist Hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
2 Associate Professor, Department of Community Health, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
3 Professor, Department of Community Health, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
Leeberk Raja Inbaraj
Department of Community Health, Bangalore Baptist Hospital, Bengaluru - 560 024, Karnataka
Parental perception of safe and risk-free environment is critical in the prevention of unintentional childhood injury. In this cross-sectional study, hundred mothers from 13 clusters were interviewed to assess the perception of mothers regarding the risks and hazards leading to unintentional childhood injuries from March to April 2013. A tool developed by Glik et al. was used. Mothers' perception of likelihood of injury from hazards such as household door and drawers, small toys, plastic bags, and cribs was poor. Mothers had a poor perception of injury by entrapment in refrigerators, choking, and strangulation by a rope. Age, education, and literacy (P < 0.05) were found to be significant predictors of perception of risk and hazard. Very few mothers (9%) believed injuries can be completely prevented and illiteracy (P < 0.05) was associated with poor perception on prevention. Health education should focus on improving maternal perception which may bring positive impact on prevention.
Inbaraj LR
Rose A
George K
Bose A
risk and hazards
unintentional childhood injuries