THE INCIDENCE OF HOME ACCIDENTS, AMONG CHILDREN UNDER 5 YEARS

The primary aim of this study was to investigate the sources, prevalence, and consequences of home accidents among children under 5 years old in Ugboshi-Eli and Ugboshi-Afe, located in the Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State. Additionally, the study assessed parental awareness regarding the potential for such accidents. A sample of 100 women was selected through simple random sampling for participation. The study utilized a self-report questionnaire, specifically designed by the researcher, which was distributed to the selected participants.

The retrieval rate of the distributed questionnaires was 95%. The responses indicated that scratches and cuts were the most common types of home accidents in Akoko-Edo Local Government, followed by burns and scalds, falls, lacerations, and poisoning. The study identified carelessness and insufficient supervision by mothers and guardians as frequent contributing factors to these accidents. Furthermore, due to the challenging socio-economic conditions in the country and the impoverished state of the people in Ugboshi-Eli and Ugboshi-Afe, many women are compelled to work, leaving them with very little time to care for their young children. Consequently, many children are left in the care of housemaids who often lack experience in looking after young children. This lack of supervision and discipline makes the children more susceptible to accidents.