title: A study of risk factors for non-intentional domestic injuries among preschoolers in three suburban areas of Sri Lanka.
abstract: Unintentional injuries are common among children of Sri Lanka and globally. These can be prevented by identification and modification of risk factors. A pre-tested, structured-observation and an interview were carried out in 270 households with children less than five years in three districts. A high prevalence of risk factors for falls (58.1%), burns (51.6%), sharps injuries (51.3%), choking (65.9%) and animal-bites (53.2%) were observed. Parental identification of risk factors was less. Parents educational level significantly affected both the prevalence of risk factors (P < .05) and parental awareness (P < .05). Only 38% has received injury prevention education and the attending physician has counseled only 5% of the parents. A high prevalence of risk factors, low parental awareness and inadequate counseling by primary care physicians was noted. Primary health-care providers should be educated to encourage counseling of parents during office visits.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka. isurujith@gmail.com
authors.forename: Isurujith K
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Liyanage
authors.forename: Ashan C A
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Pathirana
authors.forename: Kremlin K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Wickramasinghe
authors.forename: Indika M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Karunathilake
authors.forename: Asela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Olupaliyawa
mesh_terms: D000061:Accidents, Home / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors; D013188:Sri Lanka / Q000453:epidemiology