| Abstract [eng] |
The Prevalence of Home Related Injuries Among 6-7 Years old Children Attending Preschool Education Establishments in Lithuania Mostly unintentional injuries do children face in their homes [4]. Unintentional injuries are a serious threat to the health of children around the world. In most developed countries, unintentional injuries are the leading cause of death and cause serious health problems in children [10]. Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of home related injuries amongst 6 – 7 years old children attending preschool education establishments in Lithuania. Survey tasks: 1) To evaluate prevalence of home related injuries by age, gender and family socio-economic status among 6 - 7 year old children; 2) Describe the nature of home related injuries according to the child's age, gender and family’s socio-economic status; 3) To describe different injuries to evaluate places of the accident, adult supervision during the accident and the severity of injuries; 4) Determine the risk and protective factors of home related injuries. Methodology: Anonymous questionnaires were given to parents/adopters of 6 -7 years old children who lived in 23 Lithuanian district municipalities. The final study sample was of 550 respondents. Methods of the statistical analysis were: descriptive statistics, Pearson Chi2 test (or Fisher exact test when n>5) for categorical data, Mantel-Haenszel test for tendency. Odds ratio for evaluation of risk and safety factors was counted. The relationship between injuries and social-economic factors was measured by logistic regression method. The reliability coefficient p < 0,05. Results. The prevalence of home injuries was 64%, 95% CI [59,9 – 68,1]. Boys suffer injuries more often than girls (p = 0,002), children with parents/guardians with higher and post-secondary education suffer injuries more often than children with pearent/guardians with lower education (p = 0.016). The most common injuries were fall (52,7%, 95% CI [47,3 – 58,1]), cut/prick (47%, 95% CI [41,7 – 52,4]), burn/scald (25,4%, 95% CI [20,7 – 30,0]). Most of the time during the injury, a child was supervised by an adult. Most often professional medical aid is needed in cases of bone fractures (95,1%, 95% CI [83,47 ; 99,4]), cut/prick (78,2%, 95% CI [71,1 – 84,23]) and poison (63,2%, 95% CI [38,36 – 83,71]). Choosing items according to the safety standard works as a protective factor (OR = 0,61, p = 0,01, 95% CI [0,41 – 0,90]). Keeping pets works as a risk factor in suffering animal caused related injuries (OR = 2,5, p = 0,03, 95% CI [1,09 – 5,73]). Permission to play with very small things works as a risk factor because of a danger of choking/suffocating (OR = 2,26, p = 0,04, 95% CI [1,01 – 5,04]). Sharp things storage out of reach of children increases the risk of cut/prick (OR = 1,57, p = 0,04, 95% CI [1,01 – 2,47]). Conclusions: 1) The prevalence of home injuries amongst 6 – 7 years old children was 64%. 2). The most common injuries are fall, cut/prick and burn/scald. 3) Most often injuries occur when a child being supervised by an adult. In cases of bone fracture, cut/prick and poison, a need of professional medical attention was required. 4) Child injuries protective factor is choosing items according the safety standard. Home grown pet, permission to play with small things and sharp things not being stored out of the reach of children are risk factors leading to children injuries. Key words: 6 – 7 years old children, home injuries, prevalence, risk and protective factors. |
