Domestic injuries among children: knowledge, attitudes, and practices of first aid among mothers in Arar, Saudi Arabia

IntroductionHome injuries are a major cause of mortality and disability in children worldwide. Home accidents strain the healthcare system and can hurt family income and children's quality of life. To save lives and avoid sequelae, parents and carers should be competent in giving emergency management to children engaged in house accidents. ObjectivesThis study aims to determine the pattern of home injuries affecting children (0-5 years old) in Arar City, to assess Saudi mothers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding first aid measures to be taken for injured children, and to identify some of the factors associated with mothers' level of KAP. MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted on Saudi mothers with under-five children in Arar, Saudi Arabia. A structured self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on recruited mothers' sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards home injuries and first aid measures. ResultsOut of the total 348 respondents, 24.7% demonstrated a high level of knowledge about domestic injuries, while 38.8% had a moderate level of awareness, and 36.5% had a low level of knowledge on the subject. Knowledge was associated with mother's age, educational level, employment, being married, high economic status and fewer number of children (P < 0.05). Regarding the attitude score, 28.5% demonstrated a good attitude towards domestic injuries, while 31.0% exhibited a fair attitude, and 40.5% had a poor attitude. However, the practice score revealed that most participants fall into the categories of good practice (37.1%) and Fair practice (30.2%). ConclusionThe findings revealed varying levels of knowledge, attitudes, and practices among the respondents, with a significant portion demonstrating gaps in understanding and implementation of first aid measures. Factors such as age, marital status, type of residence, and family household income were found to be associated with levels of knowledge about first aid.