The frequency with which children are injured in accidents at home is very high in Bahrain, reported the Gulf Daily, quoting a survey as saying Thursday.
The survey, conducted by the health ministry and international agencies, showed that 74 percent of all accidents in Bahrain involving children occur in the home said the Daily.
The percentage of children who have had a serious accident or injury was 5.3.
The survey, covering all aspects of health and its analysis, was carried out over four years, the Daily added.
A health ministry official that said 70 staff, including nurses, social workers and employees of the Central Statistics Organization took part in the survey, which was coordinated by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) health ministers council executive board.
A total of 4,166 households, involving 26,723 people, were successfully interviewed, he added.
A total of 5.3 percent, or one in 19 children under five years of age, were reported as having had a serious accident/ injury. This is a very high prevalence rate, he revealed.
At all ages, the likelihood of having an accident was higher among boys than girls.
Overall, 74 percent of accidents occurred at home, 12 percent in a public road, while 14 percent occurred at some other places, said the survey.
Eleven percent of the accidents were due to fire, and nine percent due to poisoning, he added.
The poisoning was mainly caused by negligence of parents who stored kerosene and petrol in beverage bottles and kept them within children's reach.
Parents have to exercise caution and children have to be educated on safety at home and public places, he said -- Albawaba.com
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
