title: Community perceptions of unintentional child injuries in Makwanpur district of Nepal: a qualitative study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In Nepal, childhood unintentional injury is an emerging public health problem but it has not been prioritised on national health agenda. There is lack of literature on community perceptions about child injuries. This study has explored community perceptions about child injuries and how injuries can be prevented.
  
  
  METHODS
  Focus group discussions were conducted with mothers, school students and community health volunteers from urban and rural parts of Makwanpur district in Nepal. FGDs were conducted in Nepali languages. These were recorded, transcribed and translated into English. A theoretical framework was identified and thematic analysis conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three focus group discussions, with a total of 27 participants, took place. Participants were able to identify examples of child injuries which took place in their community but these generally related to fatal and severe injuries. Participants identified risk factors such as the child's age, gender, behaviours and whether they had been supervised. Consequences of injuries such as physical and psychological effects, impact on household budgets and disturbance in household plans were identified. Suggestions were made about culturally appropriate prevention measures, and included; suitable supervision arrangements, separation of hazards and teaching about safety to the parents and children.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Community members in Nepal can provide useful information about childhood injuries and their prevention but this knowledge is not transferred into action. Understanding community perceptions about injuries and their prevention can contribute to the development of preventive interventions in low income settings.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Child and Adolescent Health, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK. puspa.pant@uwe.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Puspa Raj
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Pant
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Towner
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pilkington
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ellis
authors.forename: Dharma
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Manandhar
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D009390:Nepal; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population