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Background: Domestic accidents are worldwide health problems. Domestic accidents have not so far been recognized to the same extent as traffic and work-related injuries, largely because they have not been effectively counted. Very few studies are available regarding domestic accidents in India, and there is no study available from the rural areas. Hence the present study was undertaken with an aim to assess the prevalence of domestic accidents in a rural community. Aim & Objective: To assess the prevalence of domestic accidents in a rural community. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in the rural field practice area of Katuri Institute of Medical Sciences, Guntur. Totally 5419 individuals were selected from 30 clusters using Cluster Sampling Technique. In each cluster, 178 individuals (some clusters had more than 178 individuals) were surveyed by house-to-house visit. Information about domestic accidents among the family members in the past one year was obtained by interviewing the head of the family or responsible adult informant using a pre-tested structured proforma. The data was compiled and analyzed. Results: Among 5419 individuals, 2748 (50.9%) were males and 2671 (49.1%) were females. Prevalence of domestic accidents in the rural community was found to be 9.6%, majority (21.8%) of domestic accidents are observed in children 1-4 years of age. Most common domestic accidents reported were falls (43.2%). Majority (44.1%) of domestic accidents occurred in the morning hours. Commonest place for occurrence of domestic accidents was kitchen (46.5%). Majority (53.6%) was treated at home and complete recovery was observed in 91.9% of domestic accident cases. Conclusion: The prevalence of domestic accidents in the rural community was 9.6 %. Falls were the most common domestic accidents.

Background: Unintentional injury remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among children worldwide. This study assessed the knowledge, attitude, prevalence, and practices toward the prevention of domestic accidents and injuries among caregivers of under-five in Kano, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: Three hospitals located within Kano metropolis were chosen because they are the main referral hospitals located strategically in three local government areas and well patronized by the populace as evidenced by their patient turnover. Respondents (caregivers) were selected for administration of the questionnaires using systematic sampling technique based on the order of their presentation at the emergency pediatric unit (EPU). Results: Overall prevalence of domestic accidents in the three hospitals in the study was 13.7%. The mean age of caregivers was 29.6 ± 9.7 years and the majority of them were female 81.3%. Nearly 64.6% have formal education out of which 27.8% have up to tertiary education and most with at least five and above under-five under their care, with mean ages of the under-five children of 2.87 ± 2.82 years. Only 7.7% of the respondents had an overall good knowledge of domestic accident and injuries. Kerosene poisoning was the commonest domestic accident reported (34.4%) followed by falls (17.5%). Significantly, 30% of respondents had good practice toward domestic accident prevention largely due to preventive behaviors such as self-motivation (9.7%) and perceived danger (41.5%). Conclusion: This study demonstrates that domestic accidents especially those involving kerosene is common among children aged less than 5 years in a large sized family.

Background: Domestic accidents are a priority problem, and urgent attention is required to prevent considerable morbidity and mortality in children of the under-five age group.Methods: Community based cross-section study done in the peri-urban areas of Aligarh, India. Mothers/care-givers were interviewed about any domestic accident faced by children under 5 year age, in the last 1 year, through a semi-structured, pilot tested questionnaire. Multivariable logistic regression was performed using SPSS 24.0 software.Results: Majority of respondents were in the age group 20-35 years, majority of the children affected were male (35.6%), and in the age group of 3 to

The objectives of this study are to determine the prevalence of domestic accidents, describe the factors associated with domestic accidents and assess the medical and economical consequences of domestic accidents. Community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in a semi-urban area of Tamil Nadu during February 2013. A total of 3947 study participants were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Study variables included were socio-demography, housing conditions, epidemiological factors, medical and economical consequences of domestic accidents. Means and proportions were calculated. The prevalence of domestic accidents was 12.7%. Out of 500 domestic accidents, falls (54.4%) was the most common type of domestic accident. Females and the respondents in age group of 21-40 years were more commonly affected. About 60% of victims received treatment. Mean duration of hospital stay, mean amount of money spent for treatment and mean number of days away from routine work for falls category were 16 days, US$25 and 8 days, respectively, which are higher than other types of accidents. The burden and impact of domestic accidents was high. Therefore, in order to prevent and control domestic accidents, promotion of house safety measures and creation of awareness among the community using IEC programmes have to be undertaken.

The study assessed the knowledge and practices for domestic accident among 756 mothers of preschool children in Ibadan Southwest Local Government Area, Nigeria. Pretested questionnaire with a 15-point knowledge scale relating to domestic accident prevention was used for data collection. Descriptive statistics and ANOVA were used for data analysis. Mean age of respondents was 28.7±5.8 years and 97.8% had at least primary school education. About 30.3% of mothers place cooking utensils on the floor and 46.0% reported domestic accidents [falls (47.0%), burns (23.5%) and ingestion of kerosene (8.4%)] in their preschool children. Domestic accidents were perceived as not totally preventable (85.3%) and part of children’s development (50.8%). Preventive practices employed included consistent monitoring of preschool children (58.5) and keeping drugs in secured boxes (55.5%). Self responsibility (58.1%), perceived danger (37.0%) and fear of husband’s reaction (32.7%) were main influences for adoption of the preventive behaviour. Although knowledge on the causes and prevention of domestic accidents was high among the respondents, preventive practices need to be strengthened. Educational interventions such as training and public enlightenment aimed at empowering mothers and significant others to be more involved in the prevention of domestic accidents among their preschool children are recommended.

Carbon monoxide is responsible for a large number of accidental domestic poisoning and deaths throughout the world. Domestic carbon monoxide poisoning is rarely reported in India and remains an under recognized problem. The diagnosis of carbon monoxide poisoning is usually based on autopsy findings, circumstantial evidence and estimation of carboxy-haemoglobin in blood. We report a case of fatal accidental carbon monoxide poisoning in a bathroom where an LPG gas water heater was installed recently. Cherry pink discolouration of the body and organs on autopsy suggested carbon monoxide poisoning. Laboratory analysis of blood by UV visible spectrophotometry revealed presence of dangerous levels of carboxy-haemoglobin. Effective preventive measures can help in bringing down the mortality and morbidity associated with carbon monoxide poisoning.

Background: Domestic accidents are important worldwide public health problems which require increased attention. A domestic accident means an accident that takes place at home or its immediate surroundings. Domestic accidents can result in disability and loss of productivity. The aim of the study was to find the prevalence of domestic accidents in a rural area and the various epidemiological factors associated with it . Methods: A community based cross sectional study was done in a rural area of Kerala. The study period was April-May 2016. Face to face interview with a responsible adult informant was done to collect information from 403 households consisting of 1826 individuals using a semi-structured questionnaire after getting consent. Data was tabulated using MS Excel and analysed using SPSS version 20. Qualitative variables expressed as percentages and association found out using Chi square test. Results: The prevalence of domestic accidents in the community was found to be 10.5% (9.14 – 11.95, 95% CI). Majority of the victims were females (66%). Falls were the most prevalent type of domestic accident (33.5%) and it was found to be significantly associated with age, educational status, place of occurrence and activity during accident. First aid kits were available only in 38.2% of houses . Conclusions: Increased awareness, specially among female population is needed to reduce domestic accidents. Take extra care of the extreme ages as they are more vulnerable to falls. It is essential that every house has a first aid kit.

Domestic accidents are widespread, but no data are available on their occurrence in pathological populations such as patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Aim was to investigate domestic habits and occurrence of different types of domestic accidents and near falls in a sample of MS patients compared with healthy controls and to determine whether patients' domestic accidents are linked to any disease characteristics.Descriptive survey of 50 patients and 50 healthy controls. Participants were administered an ad-hoc questionnaire to collect data on domestic habits and accidents they had in the past 2 months. Their physical and neuropsychological functioning, mood and fatigue were also assessed.Results showed that patients spend most of their time at home with caregivers. No differences emerged for total number of domestic accident types, but there were differences in bumps and near falls. The latter seem to be linked to patients' walking ability and to bowel/bladder functioning and the former to reasoning ability and fatigue.This study provides the first data on the occurrence of domestic accidents and possible causes in MS patients. It encourages further studies on the topic, with the final goal of designing preventive and rehabilitation strategies.

PubMedID: 20032773 Scalding is one of the most painful and devastating burn injuries a child can suffer. Victims are generally scalded by splashed or spilled hot fluids in the home environment. Interestingly, scalding by hot milk is a common cause of burns in rural parts of Turkey. This study aimed to identify the general features of scalding by hot milk, and to make the authorities aware of this problem through educational programs for parents and caregivers.The records of the Council of Forensic Medicine Adana Group Administration and public prosecutor's office were used. Forty-four deaths in children of preschool age (under 6) due to scalding by hot milk during 2001-2005 were analyzed.Scalding with hot milk constituted 1.05% of all medico-legal deaths (4183) during the period considered. Twenty-five (56.81%) of the victims were male while 19 (43.19%) were female. The victims' ages ranged between 18 months and 6 years, with a mean age of 3.03.Scalding by hot milk appears to be an important public health problem, especially in rural areas of Turkey. Educational programs for families and caregivers and implementation of simple safety measures will decrease the prevalence of deaths due to such preventable injuries. Copyright © 2010 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Summary Objective To assess occupational disparities with regard to the occurrence of occupational, traffic, domestic and sports accidents, and the role of factors such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, obesity, psychotropic drug intake and disability in mediating these disparities. Methods The sample included 3368 economically active subjects aged 18–64 years, selected at random in north-eastern France. Subjects completed a postal questionnaire about sociodemographic and lifestyle information, and recorded the occurrence of accidents by type during the previous 2 years. Data were analysed using a logistic regression model with different sets of independent variables and covariates in order to describe the disparities and investigate the role of personal factors. Results During the 2 years preceding the survey, 11.8% of men and 5.4% of women had an occupational accident, 3.7% of men and 4.5% of women had a traffic accident, 4.1% of men and 1.5% of women had a domestic accident, and 6.1% of men and 1.9% of women had a sports accident. Personal factors were strongly related to the occurrence of accidents, with different patterns in men compared with women, and according to the type of accident. Men in intermediary occupations, clerks, craftsmen and tradesmen and, to an even greater extent, manual workers and farmers had a much higher occurrence of occupational accidents than men in the upper occupations, while craftsmen and tradesmen had a much higher occurrence of traffic accidents. Manual workers had a lower occurrence of sports accidents. After adjustment for lifestyle factors and disability, estimated odds ratios were reduced slightly but remained significant. Occupational disparities in accidents were virtually non-existent among women. Conclusion Occupational disparities in accidents mainly concern men and are predominantly observed in occupational and traffic accidents. Lifestyle factors do play a role in explaining these disparities, but are fairly limited. Improved work conditions, equipment, health behaviours, safe driving practices and accommodation of people with disabilities are needed to reduce the risk of accidents.

Domestic accidents can be considered a public health problem due to their high morbidity and mortality rates. The aims of this descriptive-exploratory study with a quantitative approach were to identify domestic accidents involving children in their first infancy, and to know their major causes. The sampling enrolled 65 families of children registered in two day-care centers in Fortaleza-CE, during 2004-2005. Parent’s interviews were conducted at the domiciles, using forms to assess demographic and domestic accident referrals. No significant association was found between the child sex and the type of accident. However, significant associations were found between the type of accident and age and between the kind of accident suffered and the part of the body injured. Thus, knowing the major accidents that reach the children at the domiciliary context and their causing effects are critical for nurses to develop efficiently health educative strategies towards accident prevention and child health promotion.

Background: Domestic accidents are emerging as a new epidemic. They result in significant mortality and morbidity. Majority of the domestic accidents are preventable. Objective: To study the occurrence of domestic accident and awareness on its prevention in an urban community. Materials and Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 300 members residing in an urban area. Complete information was collected through a semi-structured, pretested questionnaire. Domestic accident was considered when any of these individuals had met with an accident inside the house or in the immediate surroundings of the house. The data were analyzed using appropriate statistical software (MS Excel and SPSS, version 20). Results: This study on the assessment of the level of awareness on preventive measures revealed that 40% respondents used apron while working in kitchen, 58% did not have a first-aid kit in the kitchen; 84% respondents said that subdue fire caused by electricity should be dealt with pouring water on fire; and 56% respondents were unaware that keeping the handle of the pan toward oneself may lead to tipping on contents on them and cause injury. Sixty-eight percent respondents were unaware about the storage of medicines in cool and dry places. Conclusions: The most common accident reported was cuts. The level of awareness regarding domestic accidents was not high among the residents and hence there is a serious need to address the problem through public health education.

Background: Geriatric population is vulnerable to domestic accidents. Safety-related provisions/behavior in domestic environment can reduce the risk of accidents. Aim and Objective: To know the safety practices followed at home by people above 60 years age and to assess few epidemiological factors associated with their risk of domestic accident. Study Design: A community-based cross-sectional study. Materials and Methods: Using Lot Quality Technique, 135 elderly (out of 196; at 7% desired level of accuracy, 95% desired confidence level), willing to participate, were interviewed for their practices towards accident prevention. Observations were made regarding safety provisions within homes. The data was recorded in predesigned, pre-tested, semi-structured proformas, based on Home Safety Checklist Tool. Statistical Analysis Used: SPSS package version 17. Fisher's Exact test applied for statistical significance of factors related to accident risk in domestic environment. Results: Elderly from joint families significantly keep passage of bedroom to bathroom free from obstacles, telephone cords away from walking area and use stool to reach high cupboard (P < 0.0005). In nuclear families, stairway was kept adequately lighted (P < 0.05). Literate elderly put away things back to its place after using, walk in room without obstacles, keep soap reachable during bath, keep stairways in good condition, use doormats to wipe feet (P < 0.05). Habit of not cleaning up spills (85.2%), walking on wet floor (60.7%), and no grab bars in bathrooms (53.3%) were observed. Conclusion: Provision and use of home safety measures/practices with needful awareness and attitude are important to prevent domestic accidents amongst elderly.