Parent's Knowledge and Attitude Regarding Falls Prevention and Management in Children Under 5 Years of Age in Major Tertiary Hospital, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background: Falls injuries remain the major cause of hospitalization and disability among children and are the fifth leading cause of death among infants.Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitude and barriers of parents regarding falls prevention and management in children under 5 years of age. Material and Methods:A cross-sectional descriptive study was done in Prince Sultan Military Medical City (PSMMC) outpatient clinics and primary health care centers, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia among a convenience sample of parents of children aged 5 years or less.Data were collected through a validated self-administrated questionnaire contained 4 main parts: Socio demographic characteristics of parents, detailed description of the children`s falls, knowledge about child falls prevention and management (14 statements) and attitude of parents towards child falls prevention and management (5 statements). Results:The study included 360 out of 384 targeted parents with a response rate of 93.75%. Almost two-thirds (65%) of the respondents were mothers and 47.5% aged between 25 and 34 years. The total parental knowledge score was abnormally distributed as shown by significant Shapiro-Wilk test, p < 0,001. Its median value was 12 out of a possible maximum of 14 and its IQR was 12-14. Mothers were more knowledgeable about child falls prevention and management than fathers, p = 0.012. Parents aged between 25 and 34 years has the highest knowledge score, p < 0.001. Parents with Bachelor degree expressed the highest score, p = 0.011.Unemployed were more knowledgeable than employed parents, p = 0.004. Parents live in extended families had the highest score, p < 0.001. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between number of family members and total knowledge score (r "Spearman`s coefficient of correlation" = 0.106, p = 0.045). Parents who had history of receiving any training courses in first aid were more knowledgeable, p = 0.001. Overall, total parental attitude score towards fall prevention and management was abnormally distributed as shown by significant Shapiro-Wilk test, p < 0,001. Its median value was 9 out of a possible maximum of 10 and its IQR was 8-10. The highest attitude score towards child fall prevention and management was observed among parents with lowest educational level, p = 0.030. Students expressed higher score of attitude score, p = 0.002. Divorced parents expressed higher attitude score than widowed parents, p < 0.001. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between number of rooms and total attitude score (r = 0.148, p = 0.005). Parents who had history of receiving any training courses in first aid were more likely to have better attitude compared to their counterparts, p < 0.001. Conclusion:Parental knowledge of and attitude towards child fall prevention and management were good in general. However, lack of their training in first aid represented the main barrier affecting their knowledge and attitude.