Safety Measures During Cooking to Prevent Unintentional Childhood Scald Burns in Mwanza City. Tanzania
Material type:
Item type | Current library | Collection | Status | Barcode | |
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POSTGRADUATE DISSERTATIONS | MWALIMU NYERERE LEARNING RESOURCES CENTRE-CUHAS BUGANDO | NFIC | 1 | CREC/632023 |
Abstract: Background: Globally burn injuries are a major public health problem, with prevalence being highest in young children. Socio-economic and environmental conditions increase risks for childhood scald burn injuries at home. There is a lack of childhood burn injury prevention strategies in low-and middle income countries; however, there is potential to modify risk of childhood burn injury at the household level. The current study aims at identifying feasible safety measures at home during cooking to prevent unintentional childhood scald burn injury in urban areas in Tanzania. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was done in Mwanza City. Through semi-structured questionnaire caregivers of children under 3 years old were asked for their knowledge and practice towards prevention of unintentional childhood burns at home during cooking. In-depth interviews were conducted among burn care providers from the burn unit at Bugando Medical Centre and Sekou Toure Regional Referral Hospital in Mwanza City to understand their views on introducing feasible burn injury prevention strategies. Selected caregivers were visited at home to discuss and photograph homemade interventions. Results of the current study will provide ideas for possible interventions for the development of a childhood burn injury prevention strategy in urban areas in Tanzania. Results: A total of 91 caregivers participated in the study of whom 81 (90.1%) caregivers believed childhood burn injuries can be prevented. Regarding knowledge, 66 (80%) caregivers were able to mention 3 or more safety measures to prevent childhood scald burn injuries during cooking, however safety measures mentioned most frequently were rather vague, like “being more careful” and “keeping children far from cooking area.” Out of the three caregivers who were visited at home, two caregivers had built a separate cooking hut and one caregiver had placed the stove on a table and carried her child on the back while cooking. At the time of the burn incident “honey” was used as a first aid agent in 50 (54.9%) cases, but now only 32 (35.2%) caregivers reported they would use “honey” as a first aid agent now. The use of water increased from 15 (16.5%) at the time of the burn incident to 46 (50.5%) of the caregivers, who would use as a first aid agent now. Burn care mentioned similar safety measures as the caregivers, but also brought in new ideas, like “feeding the child early”, “forbid to cook inside” and “provide a safe play area for children”. They suggested making use of the media to introduce burn prevention strategies, but also opted for caregiver education in the hospital, clinic, schools and community meetings. Apart from education they also considered legislation in construction of houses to be important for increased safety at home. Conclusion: The participants in the current study were exposed to childhood burn injury and to burn prevention education in the hospital. Their knowledge and practice towards burn prevention was fairly positive which is encouraging for future burn prevention education initiatives. Simple and low-cost interventions like carrying the child on the back when cooking, constructing a separate cooking area, fencing the cooking area, and using water as a first aid measure for burns can be communicated to caregivers in existing meetings at community level. However, it is recommended to conduct a community survey to get an accurate insight in the knowledge, attitude and practice of the general public in Mwanza. Considering environmental differences it would be interesting to compare hazards for childhood burn injuries in urban and rural settings and develop prevention strategies accordingly. Construction of a separate cooking area and provision of running should be incorporated legislation.
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