The Health Agenda, Volume 3. Issue 2. April, 2015

ORIGINAL ARTICLE Prevalence and management of domestic injuries among under five children in a peri-urban area of Agartala, Tripura Authors: Kaushik Tripura, Rituparna Das, Shib Sekhar Datta, Partha Bhattacharjee, Brajamohan Singh Corresponding author: Dr. Kaushik Tripura Asst. Professor, Dept. of Community Medicine Tripura Medical College and Dr. BRAM Teaching Hospital Hapania, Agartala, Tripura 799014 Mail ID: [email protected] ABSTRACT Objectives: To estimate the prevalence, management practices and factors influencing domestic injuries among under five children in a peri-urban area of Agartala, Tripura. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Hapania, a peri-urban area of Agartala among 160 under five children. A pre-deigned and pre-tested questionnaire proforma was used to collect data after obtaining verbal consent from the parents of the under five children. Results: 103 (64.4%) under five children suffered from one or more domestic injuries in recent days. Most common types of domestic injuries were due to fall (41.9%), followed by due to cut injuries (22.5%). 91.26% participants said they gave first aid to the child after domestic injury, and among them 40.42% applied dettol or betadine on wound, followed by 37.23% applied Soap or ointment. Conclusion: Study indicates high prevalence of domestic injuries among under five children in the study area and these were mostly accidental in nature, and majority of the parents used first aid after domestic injuries. Key words: Domestic injuries, Peri-urban area, Under five children INTRODUCTION The public health experts have coined the name ‘Modern Day Epidemic’ for accidents. (1) Accident is an occurrence that is unpremeditated, unintentional and unforeseen. Domestic accident is a potentially harmful, unexpected and abrupt occurrence affecting a child which may or may not produce injuries and which leads to medical consultation. (2) Domestic accident is an accident that takes place at home or in its immediate surroundings, and, more generally all accidents not connected with traffic, vehicles or sport. (3) Domestic accidents are one of the five leading causes of death in industrialized and developing countries. (4) Every domestic accident brings a varying measure of distress to the victim as well as the family members. The consequences may be disastrous both for the individual and the society when the accident results in permanent disability, as the victim loses his earning capacity and may not be able to enjoy a normal active life. Children

The Health Agenda, Online ISSN No: 2320-3749

in particular are more vulnerable to domestic accidents, resulting in disability and loss of future productivity. (5) The problem is graver in developing countries, particularly in rural areas, shanty towns or informal dwellings. (4) Very few studies are available regarding domestic accidents from India. Similarly, there is no study available from Tripura on domestic injuries and thus, the present study was carried out to study the magnitude of domestic accidents among under five children in a peri-urban area of Agartala, Tripura. OBJECTIVES To estimate the prevalence of domestic injuries among under five children in a peri-urban area of Agartala, Tripura; to study the management practices of domestic injuries; and to determine the socio-demographic factors associated with domestic injuries among under five children.

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Tripura K, Das R, Datta SS, et al: Domestic injuries among under five children in Agartala Table 1: Socio-demographic profile of under five children [N=160] Characteristics Age (in years) Upto 1 1-5 Gender Male Female Religion Hindu Muslim Caste General Schedule tribe Schedule caste OBC Father’s education Illiterate Primary Secondary Higher secondary Graduate and above Mother’s education Illiterate Primary Secondary Higher secondary Graduate and above Father’s occupation Govt. service Business Farmer Daily labourer Unemployed Others Mother’s occupation Govt. service Housewife Daily labourer Others Number of family member 3-5 6-9 Per capita mthly income (Rs) Upto 5000 5001-10000 10001 and above Type of family Nuclear Joint Others

N (%) 22 (13.75) 138 (86.25) 89 (55.6) 71 (44.4) 158 (98.8) 2 (1.2) 90 (56.3) 1 (0.6) 45 (28.1) 24 (15) 8 (5) 30 (18.8) 62 (38.7) 23 (14.4) 37 (23.1) 14 (8.8) 48 (30) 54 (33.8) 12 (7.5) 32 (20) 39 (24.4) 54 (33.8) 3 (1.9) 49 (30.6) 1 (0.6) 14 (8.8) 20 (12.5) 136 (85) 3 (1.9) 1 (0.6) 126 (78.8) 34 (21.2) 146 (91.9) 10 (6.3) 3 (1.3) 96 (60) 63 (39.4) 1 (0.6)

METHODOLOGY A community based cross-sectional study was carried out during February, 2015 in Hapania, a peri-urban area of Agartala, among children aged less than five years. Sample size was calculated to 160 (4pq/L2 formula) after taking prevalence 10%(2) and absolute precision of 5% and 10% for non-response. A pre-tested and pre-designed questionnaire was used to collect data. The proforma comprised of three parts. First part was about socio-demographic characteristics, and second and third parts dealt with prevalence and management of domestic injuries among under five children. Purpose of the study was explained to parents and written consent was obtained before data collection. Subject confidentiality was assured and maintained during and after information collection. Collected data was entered in Microsoft excel 2007 computer program, and SPSS version 15.0 computer software was used for data analysis. Categorical data were expressed in percentages and numerical data in mean and standard deviation. Chi-square test with Yates correction was applied to test significant association, p value