Maternal knowledge and attitude towards unintentional childhood injury among children under five
Background: Childhood injuries resulting in disability represent a critical global health challenge, particularly for children under five and their families. Unintentional injuries, including falls, fractures, burns, scalds, and poisoning, pose significant risks. In Oyo State, Nigeria, limited mater...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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AOSIS
2025-05-01
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| Series: | African Journal of Disability |
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| Online Access: | https://ajod.org/index.php/ajod/article/view/1617 |
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| author | Olaitan J. Balogun Oyeronke O. Bello Loveness A. Nkhata Joseph Conran |
| author_facet | Olaitan J. Balogun Oyeronke O. Bello Loveness A. Nkhata Joseph Conran |
| author_sort | Olaitan J. Balogun |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Childhood injuries resulting in disability represent a critical global health challenge, particularly for children under five and their families. Unintentional injuries, including falls, fractures, burns, scalds, and poisoning, pose significant risks. In Oyo State, Nigeria, limited maternal knowledge about these injuries potentially contributes to inadequate prevention strategies.
Objectives: The study examined unintentional childhood injuries among children under five by identifying nature of injury, assessing maternal knowledge and attitudes, and exploring associations between socio-demographic factors and their knowledge and attitude.
Method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted across two hospitals, employing a structured questionnaire to collect data on injury characteristics, maternal knowledge, and attitudes. Statistical analysis using SPSS version 23.0 involved percentage calculations, standard deviation, Fisher’s exact test and chi-square test to evaluate demographic variable associations at a 5% significance level.
Results: Findings revealed falls, scalds, soft tissue damage, poisoning, and burns as the most frequent unintentional injuries necessitating hospitalisation. The research uncovered a significant deficit in maternal knowledge about childhood injuries, accompanied by predominantly negative preventive attitudes. Mothers’ age, religious background, and educational attainment demonstrated statistically significant correlations with knowledge scores.
Conclusion: The study exposes critical gaps in understanding and preventing childhood injuries, emphasising the urgent need for targeted educational interventions across community stakeholders to mitigate risks and improve child health outcomes.
Contribution: The study contributes to the existing literature, identified specific knowledge deficits regarding childhood injury prevention and factors that influence preventive knowledge and attitude. It also provides an evidence-base for developing appropriate educational interventions targeting vulnerable population. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a19008d1ba05407389a8825ca4c8e2c7 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2223-9170 2226-7220 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | African Journal of Disability |
| spelling | doaj-art-a19008d1ba05407389a8825ca4c8e2c72025-08-20T03:19:28ZengAOSISAfrican Journal of Disability2223-91702226-72202025-05-01140e1e810.4102/ajod.v14i0.1617455Maternal knowledge and attitude towards unintentional childhood injury among children under fiveOlaitan J. Balogun0Oyeronke O. Bello1Loveness A. Nkhata2Joseph Conran3Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Physiotherapy Division, Stellenbosch University, Cape TownDivision of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, IbadanDepartment of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Physiotherapy Division, Stellenbosch University, Cape TownDepartment of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Physiotherapy Division, Stellenbosch University, Cape TownBackground: Childhood injuries resulting in disability represent a critical global health challenge, particularly for children under five and their families. Unintentional injuries, including falls, fractures, burns, scalds, and poisoning, pose significant risks. In Oyo State, Nigeria, limited maternal knowledge about these injuries potentially contributes to inadequate prevention strategies. Objectives: The study examined unintentional childhood injuries among children under five by identifying nature of injury, assessing maternal knowledge and attitudes, and exploring associations between socio-demographic factors and their knowledge and attitude. Method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted across two hospitals, employing a structured questionnaire to collect data on injury characteristics, maternal knowledge, and attitudes. Statistical analysis using SPSS version 23.0 involved percentage calculations, standard deviation, Fisher’s exact test and chi-square test to evaluate demographic variable associations at a 5% significance level. Results: Findings revealed falls, scalds, soft tissue damage, poisoning, and burns as the most frequent unintentional injuries necessitating hospitalisation. The research uncovered a significant deficit in maternal knowledge about childhood injuries, accompanied by predominantly negative preventive attitudes. Mothers’ age, religious background, and educational attainment demonstrated statistically significant correlations with knowledge scores. Conclusion: The study exposes critical gaps in understanding and preventing childhood injuries, emphasising the urgent need for targeted educational interventions across community stakeholders to mitigate risks and improve child health outcomes. Contribution: The study contributes to the existing literature, identified specific knowledge deficits regarding childhood injury prevention and factors that influence preventive knowledge and attitude. It also provides an evidence-base for developing appropriate educational interventions targeting vulnerable population.https://ajod.org/index.php/ajod/article/view/1617unintentional injurymaternalknowledgeattitudeunder-fivesnature of injuries. |
| spellingShingle | Olaitan J. Balogun Oyeronke O. Bello Loveness A. Nkhata Joseph Conran Maternal knowledge and attitude towards unintentional childhood injury among children under five African Journal of Disability unintentional injury maternal knowledge attitude under-fives nature of injuries. |
| title | Maternal knowledge and attitude towards unintentional childhood injury among children under five |
| title_full | Maternal knowledge and attitude towards unintentional childhood injury among children under five |
| title_fullStr | Maternal knowledge and attitude towards unintentional childhood injury among children under five |
| title_full_unstemmed | Maternal knowledge and attitude towards unintentional childhood injury among children under five |
| title_short | Maternal knowledge and attitude towards unintentional childhood injury among children under five |
| title_sort | maternal knowledge and attitude towards unintentional childhood injury among children under five |
| topic | unintentional injury maternal knowledge attitude under-fives nature of injuries. |
| url | https://ajod.org/index.php/ajod/article/view/1617 |
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