Abstract
Background: Most childhood unintentional injuries occur in the home; however, very little home injury prevention information is tailored to developing countries. Utilizing our previously developed information dissemination tools and a hazard assessment checklist tailored to a low-income neighborhood in Pakistan, we pilot tested and compared the effectiveness of two dissemination tools. Methods: Two low-income neighborhoods were mapped, identifying families with a child aged between 12 and 59 months. In June and July 2010, all enrolled households underwent a home hazard assessment at the same time hazard reduction education was being given using an in-home tutorial or a pamphlet. A follow up assessment was conducted 4–5 months later. Results: 503 households were enrolled; 256 received a tutorial and 247 a pamphlet. The two groups differed significantly (p < 0.01) in level of maternal education and relationship of the child to the primary caregiver. However, when controlling for these variables, those receiving an in-home tutorial had a higher odds of hazard reduction than the pamphlet group for uncovered vats of water (OR 2.14, 95% CI: 1.28, 3.58), an open fire within reach of the child (OR 3.55, 95% CI: 1.80, 7.00), and inappropriately labeled cooking fuel containers (OR 1.86, 95% CI: 1.07, 3.25). Conclusions: This pilot project demonstrates the potential utility of using home-visit tutorials to decrease home hazards in a low-income neighborhood in Pakistan. A longer-term randomized study is needed to assess actual effectiveness of the use of allied health workers for home-based injury education and whether this results in decreased home injuries.
Highlights
Most childhood unintentional injuries occur in the home; very little home injury prevention information is tailored to developing countries
And unexpectedly, the two groups differed significantly in two demographic characteristics; the educational pamphlet group had higher levels of maternal education (p < 0.01) and a higher proportion of index children having the mother as the primary caregiver (p < 0.01)
Our study showed an overall significant decrease in 13 out of 18 potential hazards for all major types of unintentional injuries following the conduct of a home hazard assessment and provision of prevention information, either in the form of an educational pamphlet that the caregiver(s) could read on their own or an in-home tutorial done jointly with a caregiver and a study data collector
Summary
Most childhood unintentional injuries occur in the home; very little home injury prevention information is tailored to developing countries. Healthcare practitioners in most HICs have an abundance of pre-designed pamphlets and information sheets regarding methods for “safety-proofing” a home for young children [16,17] Few such resources for improving home safety have been tailored to a low and middle income country (LMIC) setting, and there is limited information regarding the best methods and tools for dissemination of home safety information in LMICs. few such resources for improving home safety have been tailored to a low and middle income country (LMIC) setting, and there is limited information regarding the best methods and tools for dissemination of home safety information in LMICs This lack of research regarding the most effective method for dissemination of home injury risk and potential prevention information in LMICs has resulted in limited ways for health professionals to share knowledge with parents [2]
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