Prevalence and factors associated with domestic accidents among children under five years at Gulu Police Barracks, Gulu City, Uganda

Abstract

Domestic accidents, including slips, falls, burns, poisoning, and electrical injuries, are among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in children under five years worldwide. An estimated 830,000 children die annually from such accidents globally, with millions more sustaining injuries that can lead to permanent disabilities. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with domestic accidents among children under 5 years at Gulu Police Barracks, Gulu City, Uganda. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted using a quantitative method. Data were collected from 384 mothers or caregivers of children under five using a semi-structured questionnaire. The Variables assessed included socio-demographic characteristics and potential predictors of domestic accidents. Data were analyzed using Stata version 18.0, which enabled the computation of both descriptive and analytical statistics. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify the factors independently associated with domestic accidents with a p-value of < 0.05 considered significant. The prevalence of domestic accidents among children under 5 years was high at 50.8% (95% CI:70.95%–79.57%). Burns, 31.0% (n = 119), and falls, 29.7% (n = 114) were the most frequently reported injuries. Male children (adjusted Odds Ratio) = aOR, 1.63; 95%CI:1.06–2.53; p = 0.027) were 2 times more likely to sustain domestic injuries than females. Overall, children under 1 year (aOR:0.39; 95% CI:0.16–0.91; p = 0.029) were less likely to experience domestic accidents. Domestic accidents are highly prevalent among children under 5 years in the Gulu Police Barracks community, with burns and falls being the most common. Male children were twice as likely to sustain domestic injuries as females, while children < 1 year were less likely than those above one year. The findings highlight the need for targeted interventions, including caregiver education, improved supervision, and household safety measures, to reduce preventable injuries among young children.