A Study to Assess the Knowledge of Mothers of Preschoolers regarding Home Accidents and Their Prevention in a Selected Rural Community of Moradabad, UP

Abstract

A house is an exciting place for infants and small children, who love to explore but are not aware of the potential dangers. Life cannot be risk-free, but most household accidents can be prevented by utilizing a household safety list. The incidence of accidental injuries is increasing in India, especially home accidents, among children. The main causes of accidents at home are falls, fire, burns, drowning, suffocation, choking, poisoning, cuts, and lacerations with a large number happening in the living room but, however, the most serious ones happen in the kitchen. The mother should know about the home safety needs of under-five children because mothers are usually the caregivers, and who will be at home with the child. Therefore, the investigator felt the real need for assessing the knowledge of mothers of preschoolers on home accidents and their prevention. The research approach selected for the present study was quantitative research and the research design as descriptive survey design. The data collection tool was a structured interview schedule, and the technique used was interviewing. Sixty mothers of preschoolers were selected through purposive sampling technique and were interviewed to collect the data. Analysis of the data indicated that the majority (83%) of mothers of preschoolers was having moderate knowledge followed by 12% mothers having adequate knowledge and only 5% had inadequate knowledge regarding home accidents and their prevention. It also showed a significant association between knowledge regarding home accidents and their prevention with employment status and educational level of mothers. Thus it can be concluded that most of the mothers of preschoolers have moderate knowledge regarding home accidents and their prevention.