| dc.description.abstract | Home emergencies are among common causes of why mothers have emergency hospital visits in Africa and third world countries. Kenya is no exception and most specifically kisumu County where mothers flow everyday in the kisumu County hospital carying children with burns,foreign object in the body, fractures and so on.The weight of the situation prompted the study aimed to assess the knowledge, practices and perception of mothers in preventing common home emergencies among children under ten years at Kisumu County Hospital’s Casualty and Emergency Department.
A sample of 42 mothers was used. Data was gathered through structured questionnaires and interviews, employing quantitative methods for a comprehensive analysis The collected data were analyzed using descriptive quantitative statistics to explore the relationship between mothers' knowledge,perception and their practices in managing home emergencies.Data analysis was performed using descriptive and inferential statistics to determine trends and associations between mothers' knowledge,practices and their perceptions of home injury risks.
The findings of this study revealed that 93.9% of mothers were knowledgeable about keeping cleaning tools and chemicals out of children's reach, while 78.4% were aware of the risks of drowning, even in shallow water. However, only 35.4% of respondents knew how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and just 30% of mothers indicated that all family members were familiar with emergency numbers. In terms of emergency response practices, 52% of mothers supervised their children during play, and 24% removed dangerous objects from the home environment. However, incorrect responses to emergencies were prevalent, with 70% of mothers reporting incorrect actions when dealing with burns, and a striking 90% responding ineffectively to cases of foreign body aspirations, such as choking. Additionally, 75% of mothers believed their children were vulnerable to home injuries, though 88% felt that these injuries could not be fully prevented, while 30.7% downplayed the severity of falls and cuts compared to more serious risks like poisoning and drowning. These statistics underscore significant gaps in both knowledge and practical emergency response skills, highlighting the need for improved education and training for mothers to effectively manage common home emergencies.
The research concluded there was urgent need for targeted education programs aimed at increasing awareness and knowledge of home injury prevention and emergency response among mothers. Recommendations includes implementing community-based workshops and educational campaigns focused on safety practices, as well as integrating child safety education into maternal and child health services at Kisumu County Hospital. Such initiatives could empower mothers with the necessary skills to respond effectively to home injury emergencies, ultimately reducing morbidity and mortality rates among children. | en_US |
