Home related injuries among children under 5 years old in the Republic of Moldova

Abstract

Introduction: Childhood is certainly the most precious period of life. It is very tragic and painful, when childhood is shaken by suffering caused by injuries and accidents. According to the World Report on Child Injury Prevention, worldwide, more than 2,000 children die every day from unintentional and most of the risk factors are preventable. Children aged 0-5 years old are more likely to get injured at home. In the Republic of Moldova, injuries and accidents represent the 3rd cause of mortality of children under 5 years of age. Aim of study. To assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of parents with children aged under 5 years old regarding unintentional injuries among home environment. Methods and materials. A questionnaire was developed and applied among parents with children aged under 5, during October-December 2021, distributed online through social networks. Questionnaire included 43 questions, including general data, level of supervision, falls, poisoning, burns and injury with household objects. Data analysis was performed using Excel. Results. The questionnaire was completed by 300 parents with children up to 5 years old, mostly aged between 26-35 years old (72%), with high education (79,3%), of them 96% females, majority form urban areas (79,7%), with medium socio-economic status. Almost 75% respondents consider their child could be injured within the home environment, namely through injury (42,7%), followed by swallowing of foreign objects (22%). Most sharp objects, drugs, and dangerous solutions are hard to be reached by children in 62,3% and easy in 14,3%. The most common accidents the child has suffered in the last year have been caused by falls (60%), these being rare (54,7%) and occasionally (22,0%). Most of the time (54,7%) parents say they can see and hear it all the time, but it happens to leave children alone for a certain period of time. In case of home related injury, 33,3% addressed to a medical physician and 30% treated their child at home with disinfectants. The child's condition following an accident was placed at 85,3% as good and 13% as acceptable. Parents follow the doctor's recommendations (48,7%), doctor’s prescription and previous experience (17,7%), doctor's prescription and pharmacist’s recommendation (15,7%). Conclusion: The result of this study will allow focus more on the safety of the house environment for children under 5 years old. By identifying and highlighting the knowledge, attitudes and practices of parents with children aged 0-5 years we will be able to notify the relevant bodies and propose concrete measures to prevent home environmental injuries. This study will emphasize the severity of the problem and the need for safety measures by the responsible authorities, but also among parents, grandparents and other people caring for children to reduce the impact of road trauma in our society.