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Approaches used by parents to keep their children safe at home: a qualitative study to explore the perspectives of parents with children aged under five years

Ablewhite, Joanne; McDaid, Lisa; Hawkins, Adrian; Peel, Isabel; Goodenough, Trudy; Deave, Toity; Stewart, Jane; Watson, Michael; Kendrick, Denise

Authors

Lisa McDaid

Adrian Hawkins

Isabel Peel

Trudy Goodenough

Toity Deave

Jane Stewart

Michael Watson

DENISE KENDRICK DENISE.KENDRICK@NOTTINGHAM.AC.UK
Professor of Primary Care Research



Abstract

BACKGROUND: Childhood unintentional injury represents an important global health problem. Many unintentional injuries experienced by children aged under 5years occur within the home and are preventable. The aim of this study was to explore the approaches used by parents of children under five in order to help prevent unintentional injuries in the home and the factors which influence their use. Understanding how parents approach risk-management in the home has important implications for injury practitioners.

METHODS: A multi-centre qualitative study using semi-structured interviews. A thematic approach was used to analyse the data. Sixty five parents of children aged under 5years, from four study areas were interviewed: Bristol, Newcastle, Norwich and Nottingham.

RESULTS: Three main injury prevention strategies used by parents were: a) Environmental such as removal of hazards, and use of safety equipment; b) parental supervision; and c) teaching, for example, teaching children about safety and use of rules and routine. Strategies were often used in combination due to their individual limitations. Parental assessment of injury risk, use of strategy and perceived effectiveness were fluid processes dependent on a child's character, developmental age and the prior experiences of both parent and child. Some parents were more proactive in their approach to home safety while others only reacted if their child demonstrated an interest in a particular object or activity perceived as being an injury risk.

CONCLUSION: Parents' injury prevention practices encompass a range of strategies that are fluid in line with the child's age and stage of development; however, parents report that they still find it challenging to decide which strategy to use and when.

Citation

Ablewhite, J., McDaid, L., Hawkins, A., Peel, I., Goodenough, T., Deave, T., …Kendrick, D. (2015). Approaches used by parents to keep their children safe at home: a qualitative study to explore the perspectives of parents with children aged under five years. BMC Public Health, 15(983), https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-015-2252-x

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Sep 29, 2015
Deposit Date Oct 23, 2015
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal BMC Public Health
Electronic ISSN 1471-2458
Publisher Springer Verlag
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 15
Issue 983
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-015-2252-x
Keywords Child safety, Child injury prevention, Safety strategies, Qualitative
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/760340
Publisher URL http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/15/983

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