Abstract
BackgroundInjuries are a major concern in childhood. They are especially associated with high morbidity, disability and death in low-income countries. This study aimed at describing mothers’ perceptions, child supervision and care practices for children 0–5 years old and how these influence prevention of childhood injuries among children in peri-urban areas of Wakiso district, Uganda.MethodsIn this qualitative study, 10 in-depth interviews and 4 focus group discussions were held with mothers of children aged 0–5 years living in peri-urban areas of Wakiso district, Uganda. The interviews were audio recorded in the local language (Luganda). The audios were transcribed verbatim and later translated into English. We conducted thematic analysis for transcripts from the focus group discussions and in-depth interviews.ResultsMost respondents considered injuries as inevitable events among children, although, they acknowledged the impact of injuries on children’s health. Close child supervision was highlighted as key in preventing injuries. Hostile situations that place children at increased risk of injuries in this setting include: lack of adult supervision, harsh punishments and lack of safe play areas.ConclusionOur study highlights the different aspects of child care in low resource settings which put children at an increased risk of injuries. Injury prevention programs for children living in low resource settings should thus be aimed towards improving caregivers’ perceptions towards injuries, child supervision, care practices and the children play environment.
Highlights
Injuries are a major concern in childhood
In Uganda, previous research shows a high incidence of unintentional childhood injuries in the urban areas, and that child injuries constitute a significant proportion of emergency unit visits and hospital admissions among children
The importance parents attach to childhood injuries Caregivers from both the in-depth interviews and focus group discussions reported that their child had ever suffered some form of unintentional injury
Summary
Injuries are a major concern in childhood. They are especially associated with high morbidity, disability and death in low-income countries. This study aimed at describing mothers’ perceptions, child supervision and care practices for children 0–5 years old and how these influence prevention of childhood injuries among children in peri-urban areas of Wakiso district, Uganda. Most of these studies are quantitative in design, are largely concerned with describing the epidemiology of childhood injuries, and have mostly been conducted in Kampala city and within a hospital or school setting. In the current qualitative study, we aim to add-on to the existing literature by discussing mothers’ perceptions of childhood injuries, their child care practices, and the perceived need for interventions to reduce child injuries in peri-urban areas of Uganda
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