Abstract

RIBEIRO, Andreia et al. Parent’s knowledge and practice on preventive measures of home and traffic injuries. Rev Port Med Geral Fam [online]. 2019, vol.35, n.3, pp.186-195. ISSN 2182-5173.  https://doi.org/10.32385/rpmgf.v35i3.12286.

Aims: To evaluate the knowledge and practices of parents on preventive measures of home and traffic injuries. Study type: Descriptive and analytical observational study. Setting: Camélias Family Health Unit, Grande Porto VII - Gaia Group of Health Centers. Participants: Children aged between birth and 6 years old. Methods: Between May and July 2016, parents of children attending regular Child and Youth Health Consultation completed an anonymous questionnaire. It included socio-familial characterization, and evaluation of the knowledge about the theme, the prevention measures used and personal history of unintentional injury. Statistical analysis of data was performed with the SPSS® 21.0 program. Results: 121 questionnaires were obtained, 62.0% male, with a median age of 15.0 months. Regarding home preventive measures 26.1% did not have electrical outlet covers, 57.9% did not have window guards, 30.8% did not keep medication safely stored; 48.7% had toxic substances easily accessible, three had fire guns at home, two of them loaded. Around 37.2% of the families did not know the existence of an intoxication center. Of the infants aged = 6 months, 19.4% slept with cushions/cuddles, 35.5% slept in ventral/lateral decubitus, and 61.3% performed naps out of the bed. Regarding road safety, 20.2% had ever traveled without a safety restraint system, 17.6% with belts untied; 40.6% were unaware of the legal age to travel with the children facing forward. Personal history of unintentional injury was reported in 20.7%, with a predominance of falls and burns. Conclusion: Numerous families do not know or practice injury prevention methods. This data is essential to adapt and enhance the effectiveness of healthcare professionals context based intervention, contributing to the reduction of their impact on public health.

Keywords : Home accident; Traffic accident; Safety childhood; Accident prevention; Health promotion.

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