Potential for environmental change at community level to prevent child unintentional injuries in the home: A qualitative study

Bhatta, Santosh; Mytton, Julie; Deave, Toity

Abstract

Background
Unintentional injury in the home is an important cause of death and disability among young children in Nepal. Reducing home injury hazards by changing the home environment has the potential to prevent home injuries. The aim of this study was to explore the potential for environmental change at a community level to prevent children from unintentional injury in their home environment, and identify the barriers and facilitators of such change.

Method
Focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with mothers, fathers, teachers, school students and community health volunteers from three different rural areas of the Makwanpur district in Nepal. All the FGDs were conducted in Nepali languages. The discussions were recorded, transcribed, translated into English and a thematic analysis was carried out.

Results
Five FGDs, with a total of 47 participants, were undertaken. Four major themes with multiple sub-themes were identified. Participants mentioned different home injury hazards that they were aware of in their home and community, but did not voice any strong opinions on whether people in the community had tried to manage these. Strategies suggested by participants for environmental change included adapting the home and installing safety equipment, removing hazardous objects or restricting the child’s access to those hazards and changing behaviours to improve safety in the home. Barriers to environmental change included lack of awareness in the community about injury risk and risk management, and a poor financial situation. Geographical constraints, poor quality houses and lack of common responsibility amongst family and community were also key barriers. Things that would facilitate environmental change included provision of an awareness programme for the community, requiring resources and financial support and involvement of family members including community.

Conclusions
The participants suggested a range of potential environmental change interventions, including the barriers to and facilitators of such change. Addressing the environmental factors identified will be useful in developing an effective and cost effective intervention for preventing home injury in young children.

Keywords
Child unintentional injury, environmental change intervention, Qualitative, Nepal.

• Presentation Conference Type: Other
• Conference Name: The CHCR Annual Conference 2017 ‘Research with Impact’
• Start Date: Jan 19, 2017
• End Date: Jan 19, 2017
• Acceptance Date: Jan 19, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 7, 2019
• Peer Reviewed: Not Peer Reviewed
• Keywords: child unintentional injury, environmental change intervention, qualitative, Nepal
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/899721
• Additional Information: Title of Conference or Conference Proceedings : The CHCR Annual Conference 2017 'Research with Impact‘