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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

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 Thumbnail


Authors

Joanne Ablewhite

Lisa McDaid

Adrian Hawkins

Isabel Peel

Trudy Goodenough Trudy.Goodenough@uwe.ac.uk
Casual Research Fellow - Academic Grade G

Profile image of Toity Deave

Toity Deave Toity.Deave@uwe.ac.uk
Associate Professor in Child & Family Health

Jane Stewart

Michael Watson

Denise Kendrick



Abstract

© 2015 Ablewhite et al. Background: Childhood unintentional injury represents an important global health problem. Many unintentional injuries experienced by children aged under 5 years 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 5 years, 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.

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Sep 8, 2015
Publication Date Sep 29, 2015
Deposit Date Jul 28, 2016
Publicly Available Date Jul 28, 2016
Journal BMC Public Health
Electronic ISSN 1471-2458
Publisher BioMed Central
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 15
Issue 1
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-015-2252-x
Keywords child safety, child injury prevention, safety strategies, qualitative
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/805330
Publisher URL http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12889-015-2252-x
Contract Date Jul 28, 2016

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