ASSESSMENT OF MOTHER’S KNOWLEDGE ON HOME ACCIDENTS AND THEIR MANAGEMENT AMONG CHILDREN OF 0-5 YEARS IN THE MUEA COMMUNITY

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Home accident is a major public health problem with social and economic problem implications and is the leading cause of injuries and death worldwide. Home accident has physical and mental damages. A significant proportion of injuries and death of young children worldwide due to home accident and efforts to reduce home accident should be a priority (Health social service and public safety, 2015).

This research was done within the period of November 2022 to April 2023. METHOD: Data was collected using a well-structured questionnaire with both closed and open ended questions with a sample size of 150 mothers.

OBJECTIVES: The main objectives of this study were to assess mother’s knowledge on home accidents in children of 0-5 years in the Muea Community, to assess mother’s knowledge on the management of home accidents in children of 0-5 year in Muea Community, to assess the level of knowledge of mothers on the complication of home accident in children of 0-5 years in Muea community.

RESULTS With respect to objective one, mothers have knowledge on home accident with 66 (44%) of them being about to define what home accident was, the causes of home accident with 63 (42%) said burns, 50 (33.3%) said falls and 37 (24.7%) said poisoning and 87 (58%) of mothers said that home accident can be prevented. With respect to objective two, 132 (12%) of mothers had knowledge on the management of home accident. With respect to objective three, 150 (100%) mothers had knowledge on complications of home accident.

RECOMMENDATION: However this doesn’t mean something cannot be done to improve their knowledge. Seminars should be organized at the community level and hospitals so as to improve the knowledge of mothers or care givers on home accident in children of 0-5years.

CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background

Home accident is a leading cause and disability Worldwide, 90% of global deaths from home accident occurs in Low and middle income countries.(LMICs). In 2012 about 10% of mortality burden in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) was as a result of injuries. The Center for Disease control also found out that unintentional injuries makes up the eighth leading cause of death in the Sub-Saharan Africa and in Cameroon in 2016, result is estimated that mortality rate of 26 per 100,000 population and 32 per 100,000 population (Eunice Oben et al.,2022).

Home injuries, is injuries that occurs within the home and its surroundings are serious health and public health problems. Several studies carried out in the United States and Europe reports a high incident rate of home injuries consultation, hospitalization, death. In Europe every year, an estimated population of 452,200 admission and 40,000die due to home injury (Helman et al.,2014)

Some people in Sub-Saharan Africa, including Cameroon, are known to live in an unplanned settlement with poorly constructed houses, predisposing them to home injuries which can result to disabilities, loss of productivity and death.

Research from 1998 in South Africa stated that more than half of all injuries were unintenstonal. Most of which were sustained at home. Despite all th disabilities and economic consequences, very little additional research has been done in Sub-Saharan Africa which could help give guide on the prevention strategies to solve this health issue( Eunice Oben et al., 2022).

In a hospital based study in Cameroon, home injuries comprised of 20% of all injuries. A research which was carried out in the Low and middle income Countries suggest that there are low rate of utilization of formal care services. Hospital based data may not be accurate reflect the underlying burden of injury in the population both underestimating the magnitude and introducing selection bias regarding the types of injuries reported. Little is known regarding why individuals may or may not choose to seek formal care, furthermore limiting our interpretation of hospital data (Eunice Oben et al,2022).

According to Dorothea Orem’s Self Care Deficit Nursing theory is a grand nursing theory that was developed by Dorothea Elizabeth Orem between 1959 and 2001. This theory is also called the Orem’s Model of Nursing. This theories focuses on individual ability to perform self-care, it is defined as the practice of activities by individuals initiate and perform on their own behalf in maintaining life, health and well-being.

To Dorothea Orem’s Self Care Deficit Nursing theory is a grand nursing theory that was developed according Dorothea Elizabeth Orem between 1959 and 2001. This theory is also called the Orem’s Model of Nursing. This theories focuses on individual ability to perform self-care, it is defined as the practice of activities by individuals initiate and perform on their own behalf in maintaining life, health and well-being.

Orem’s Self Care nursing theory offers direction for the carers or mothers of children aged 0-5 years old in the environmental setting of homes. In this setting the mothers assist the children in teaching, guiding, supporting and providing a developmental environment. These level of care range from total care, educating children and people around them and preventing negative health outcomes.

The four major concepts of nursing according to Orem’s are: Person, environment, health, and nursing (Angelo Gonzalo)

1.2 Problem Statement

Globally, Injuries related to home accidents are gradually becoming health problems in our communities. 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. Cameroon as a developing country with poorly structured houses are at risk of accident at home.

World Health Organization (2014) every year about 830,000 children die from home accident worldwide. Home accident destroys the health and lives of many children in Cameroon through burns and falls yet home accident prevention receives little or no attention. The World Health Organization in 2008, Mortality rate in children under five year of age has decrease from 72 in every 1000 children in 1999 to 35 in every 1000children in 2006.

In Africa, “Our homes are expected to be a place of safety for us and our families,” but injuries from home and even death. In many situations children are exposed to danger in many homes as such in Sub Saharan Africa about 10% of mortality burden is attributed to injuries.

In Cameroon mortality rate was 26 per 100,000 population (Eunice Oben et al.,2016) as a result of home accident but unfortunately they are rather under-rated public health problems and under-rated house problem so therefore this study is out to examine mother’s knowledge on home accident and it’s management among children of 0-5 years in the Muea Community.

From my observations, home accident is given little or no attention by the parents or caregivers since some of the causes like falls are been ignore or not look upon as reasonable and also parents do not believe that risk resulting from injuries at home can be prevented so therefore they do not take the preventive method seriously and as such I observed that during my stay in Mbanga district hospital must children who were brought in had either drank deteragent like “La coix” or rat poisons and so where rush to the hospital for medical attention as such it is the leading cause of death and injuries in Cameroon specifically in the Buea Municipality this multivated me to carry out this research on assessing mothers knowledge on home accident and it’s management among children of 0-5 years in the Muea Community.

1.3 Objective of Study

1.3.1 General Objective.