Self-reported Unintentional Injuries in Families Visiting the ‘Childhood Safety Campaign’ in Saudi Arabia

Background: As a consequence of unintentional injury or trauma, children may develop permanent disabilities such as limb amputations or disfigurement; and in severe cases these injuries can lead to death or severe neurological disabilities.
The aim of this study was to identify the most frequently reported type of unintentional injury sustained by children in Saudi Arabia, as well as the most common locations in which such injuries take place. This paper will also examine the long-term consequences of children’s unintentional injuries on their parents and the different types of care that are needed post-injury
Methodology: This research was carried out in the form of a cross-sectional survey that was intended to be used as an evaluation tool during the first ‘Childhood Safety Campaign’ in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.  The campaign was conducted over 4 days (14 - 17 March 2017) and provided parents with free childhood safety educational resources. The campaign also aimed to capture the personal experiences of families using pre-designed electronic surveys that were completed both before and after attending the campaign. Data was subsequently analyzed using SPSS^® version 21.0 basic descriptive software.
Results: Out of the 374 parents who were surveyed, 32% (N=122) reported that at least one child of theirs had sustained an injury of some sort in the 12 months preceding the campaign.
The most common type of unintentional injuries that were reported were falls (50.9%), whilst the most common location for the occurrence of such injuries was at home (66%).
Parents also reported that, as a consequence of the injuries, most children endured a contusion/abrasion (28.7%). The families that took part in this survey also reported that most of the medical care needed as a consequence of injury took place in the Emergency Department.   However, hospitalization was needed in (2.3%) of cases.
Conclusion: Accidental injuries are most commonly reported by the parents of children in Saudi Arabia, Incidentally, the majority of these accidents occur at home and can be easily treated in the ER Department. Occasionally, however, certain serious types of injury toke place thereby requiring hospitalization. By raising awareness of these types of preventable injuries via the use of educational awareness campaigns, the risks posed to vulnerable young children may be greatly reduced.