A Cross-Sectional Study of Pediatric First Aid Knowledge and Attitude among the General Population in the Makkah Region

Abstract

Background: Children are highly susceptible to injury and death from accidents. Appropriate intervention can limit disability and increase survival (Alshammari, 2021). In this review, we aim to assess the knowledge and attitudes of the public towards pediatric first aid in the Makkah region of Saudi Arabia. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a self-administered questionnaire was distributed among residents of the Makkah region. Descriptive statistics were employed to express numerical variables and categorical variables. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The study included 397 respondents. More than half were female (60.2%). Approximately one-third of the respondents were aged > 50 years, and 28.5% were working or studying in the medical field. Most participants had heard about first aid (99.5%) and believed that training was required to provide first aid (93.7%). However, less than half of the respondents (45.1%) had attended first-aid training once. Almost half of the respondents (51.6%) had previously encountered an injury, accident, or medical emergency; of these, 77.6% had provided first aid to the individual who experienced the emergency, and the most common types of emergencies included cut wounds (38.5%), burns (37.6%), and fits (25.4%). Conclusion: First aid is an important tool for providing immediate emergency care for all people, and it is particularly important for children. Knowledge of and attitude towards first-aid tools are essential for providing first aid when needed. In contrast, training in first aid is crucial for providing appropriate first aid, particularly for children and young infants.