Parental perceptions, attitudes, and practices toward unintentional injuries among children in Armenia

Abstract

Currently, unintentional injuries are considered one of the most significant public health issues in childhood. Considerable part of children morbidity, disability and mortality is contributed by injuries. In Armenia unintentional injuries are the most common cause of death among 1-5 years old children. There are lot of factors responsible for high incidence of childhood unintentional injuries. However, for the age group 0-6 parental knowledge, perception and behavior are the most significant determinants of child safety. Objective of the current study is exploration of parental awareness of child safety issues and their attitudes towards prevention of childhood injuries. The study included 22 in-depth interviews, 2 focus group discussions and 12 free list exercises with caregivers of children aged 0-6, and 6 key-informant interviews with district pediatricians conducted in the period of July 17– August 27, 2003 in two settings, Yerevan and Gymri. Study population was selected using probability and non-probability sampling. Data were analyzed applying techniques of domain and taxonomy analysis. The study revealed that in general parents were concerned with childhood injuries and perceived them as preventable. The most common approaches to childhood injuries prevention were constant control over children actions, creating safe environment for children and warning about danger. Majority of parents resorted to general measures for assuring child safety and were not aware of special safety devices. Participants felt themselves knowledgeable in child safety issues and acquired information mostly from non-reliable sources: friends, relatives. None of the caregivers reported receiving safety counseling from pediatric policlinics. The majority of participants were keen to receive information from published materials and TV emphasizing a need for first aid advice in case of childhood injuries.