ABSTRACT

Domestic accidents are the main cause of mortality among children under 5 years. In many cases, these accidents lead to permanent disability and death in children. The main objective of this study is to examine the extent to which home accidents is common to children less than five (05) years of age.In order to achieve the study objectives, a simple random. Convenience and purposive sampling techniques would be employ. A sample of 50 participants (mothers) were selected from Ndongo quarter in Buea, South West Region of Cameroon. Structure questionnaires were administered and collected data analyzed using SPSS version 21.0. Descriptive statistics such as percentage distribution of variables was calculated. Chi-square test were also calculated in order to determine the relationship that exists between factors that determine prevalence of domestic’s accidents. Analyze data would be presented using tables and charts (bar, pie, histogram and line plots). Results revealed that, 84.0% reported cases of domestic’s accidents. Major type of domestic accidents include Fall-Slipping (90.0%), Burn (86.0%), Choking/Asphyxia (52.0%), Stab Injury (4.0%), Swollen Bead (14.0%), Animal bite (24.0%) and Drowning (4.0%). The rate of occurrence of these domestic accidents twice (50.0%). Accidental swallowing of detergents (96.0%), drugs (84.0%), contact with hot water (64.0%), child close contact with fire (88.0%) and lack of supervision at home are some of the mothers’ knowledge of risks factors associated with domestic accidents at home. Cross-sectional analysis presents a clear indication of positive attitude of the respondents towards prevention of child injuries associated with the child at home. Finally, the study also revealed that age of mothers, educational qualification, working status, and number of children show a statistical significant relationship with home accidents at p< 0.005. The study recommends that education programmers basing on the prevention and management of home accidents should be given urgent attention.

 

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Home Accidents have been identified as the largest single cause of death after the age of one year and are among the most severe health problems facing the world today. In both the industrialized world and developing countries, accidents remain one of the major five leading causes of deaths.

According to the World Health Organization (2014) every year about, 830,000 children die from home accidents worldwide. Tis corresponds to 2,000 child deaths in a day. In addition, majority of children (millions) have been referred to hospital due to home accident-related to injuries, eventually resulting in permanent disabilities.

Tough the actual number of accidents and associated harms cannot be established, home accidents are greater than traffic and occupational accidents. This is because there are insufficient records and data from hospitals and this doesn’t present all relevant figures (Tanir, 2012)

The Center for Disease Control (2011) observed that home accidents make up the third leading cause of emergency department visits in the USA and in the United Kingdom it is noted that 40% of all accidents occur at home whiles 2,700,000 people get treatment relating to home accidents. Similarly, 7,000 deaths are recorded annually due to home accidents (Helman et al., 2014).

Accidents also impose great psychological strains on families and society (Alizadeh et al., 2017).

According to a report of the World Health Organization in 2008, mortality rate in children under 5 years of age has decreased from 72 in every 1000 children in 1999 to 35 in every 1000 children in 2006. However, it is acknowledged that children are still vulnerable to many risks. Microscopic organisms and viruses are no longer major threats to children’s health. On the other hand, lifestyle, environment, and social conditions put children at risk of accidents in the modern era

According to Paudel et al. (2014), one factor that plays a critical role both in occurrence and the severity of an injury is the environment of the child. Most injuries which occur to the child take place near him. Paudel et al. (2014) further argued that majority of accidents happens in the living room; nonetheless the most severe accidents occur in the kitchen.

Baker et al. (1974) opined that injuries cause almost half of all deaths among children aged 1-4 years), as home is the place where children spend most of their time in, this is where most injuries occur, especially among younger children (Maciel et al., 2004).

Home accidents differ from country to another due to many factors such as economic and cultural factors. Although accidental injuries to infants and young children are often serious; they are generally avoidable with appropriate information and safe practices. Young children are mostly prone to injuries due to their inborn quest to discover their world coupled with their inability to notice the dangers of their activities.

 

1.2. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Injuries related to home accidents are gradually becoming health problems in our communities. It is argued that although home accidents are unexpected and unintentional, mothers feel mothers feel remorseful when they occur. Yet, when they occur, it does not take away shameful feeling of these mothers (Olutayo, 2013).

Household mishaps are a major cause of accidental death in many countries. The frequency and severity rate of accident vary from country to country and home to home. Home accident destroys the health, lives and independence of many Nigerians, yet home accident prevention receives little or no attention.

In many situations children are continually exposed to danger and passive protection will never be enough. Protection must therefore be built in to help the child fight off these dangers. Again, the child himself must be made acquainted to the risk or dangers he faces as well as measures to avoid attracting unnecessary risk. Lesperance et al. (2007) observed that most injuries can be prevented and that people tend to blame their injuries on «accidents.» According to the author the cause of most accidents are actually the results of predictable and preventable occurrences.

The most important risk factors reported for home injury include living in unsafe homes, low socioeconomic status, and mothers’ low knowledge and inappropriate attitudes. Several studies have evaluated the role of parents’ preventive measures in decreasing the incidence of home injuries (Tsoumakas et al., 2009; Morrongiello et al., 2004).

A study performed in 14 European countries has shown that the most important obstacle for adopting preventive measures is the inability of mothers to take continuous care of their children, followed by poor knowledge and inappropriate attitude about factors involved in injuries. Many researches have placed great emphasis on motivations and obstacles faced by mothers to adopt preventive measure of home accidents. However, the exact role of the majority of these factors is still unknown. Although valuable efforts have been made to recognize such factors, the results have been different and even contradictory due to cultural, social, regional difference.

In Cameroon, there is little known about the knowledge, attitude and perception of the mother on the preventive measures available for home accidents. Data on home accident are not easy to come by, they are very scanty more so, an extensive review by previous researcher e.g. scholar has failed to find any study that examine the prevalence, sources and consequences of home accident in Cameroon generally and in Buea Municipality in particular.

 

1.3. OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The main objective of this study is to examine the extent to which home accidents is common to children less than five (05) years of age.

 

1.3.1. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

1. To determine the prevalence of home accident among children less than five years old
2. To examine the knowledge level and awareness of mothers on the causes and risk factors of home accidents.

• To identify the attitudes and perception of mothers towards preventing home accidents

1. To find out the possible measures used by mothers in prevention of home accidents in children less than five years old.

 

1.4. RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1. What is the prevalence of home accidents among children less than five years old?
2. What is the knowledge level and awareness of mothers on the causes and risks factors of home accidents?
3. What are the attitudes and perception of mothers towards preventing home accidents?
4. What are the possible measures used by mothers in preventing home accidents in children less than five years old?

 

1.5. SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The scope of this study covers children less than 5years old in Buea town specifically at Ndongo area. The study would focus on the prevalence of home accidents, knowledge level and awareness of mothers on the causes and risks factors, attitude and perception towards prevention of home accidents and measures put I place for the prevention of home accidents.