Effect of community-based intervention on knowledge and practice of rural mothers toward children home injuries

Background: It is commonly recognized that home injuries in children under the age of six can cause serious problems if not treated as soon as possible and effectively. Rural mothers require effective community-based intervention programs to achieve appropriate levels of awareness and practices regarding these unintentional home injuries Aim: The study aimed to evaluate the effect of a community-based intervention on knowledge and practice of rural mothers toward children home injuries. Design: A quasi-experimental one-group pretest–posttest design was used. Setting: The study was conducted in the village of Manial Shiha, which is located in the Giza governorate. Sample: A sample of 122 rural women with children under six years old was selected. Tools of data collection: Include the following: a. a home injury questionnaire; b. a first aid observation checklist; and c. a home environment assessment sheet. Results: The findings revealed that around 62.5% of the male children had home injuries lasting 6 months or less before the research. The mean total knowledge score increased from 39 ± 5.4 in the pretest to 41 ± 9.0 in the posttest, while the mean total practice score increased from 31.2 ± 5.7 in the pretest to 48.6 ± 9.7 in the posttest. Age, education level, family size, and occupation were significant predictors of mothers' total knowledge and total practice. Conclusion: A community-based intervention is effective in enhancing rural mothers' knowledge and practice of home injuries, as well as in improving the application of preventive measures in the home environment to minimize the risk of home injuries among children.