Counseling for Mothers Regarding Accident Prevention for Their Children with Special Needs

Abstract

hildhood injury and violence are the predominant killers of children throughout the world, it is estimated that they are responsible for the death of approximately 1 million children under the age of 18 years annually. Accidental injuries account for the vast majority (90%) of these cases, while the remainder (10%) is estimated to be due to violence or maltreatment. Injury results in more deaths in children and adolescents than all other causes combined. Deaths caused by injuries, intentional or unintentional, account for more years of potential life lost under the age of 18 years than do deaths attributable to sudden infant death syndrome, cancer and infectious diseases combined. It is estimated that 1 in 4 children sustain an unintentional injury that requires medical care each year. Accidents are the leading cause of death among people in all industrialized countries and in growing number of developing countries. The greatest proportion of all deaths due to injury occurs in children and young adults. Children learn by exploring the world around them. They often touch and play with thing, which might injure them. The protection of children from injury ultimately depends on actions of adults. Mentally disabled children have higher injury rate than healthy children. They need more care from their caregivers. Hence, mother's knowledge and practices related to child injuries are of major importance in protecting children, in general, and mentally disabled children, in particular, from these dangerous and sometimes, deadly accidents and consequent injuries. This study aimed to determine the effect of counseling intervention for mothers caring children with mental disability to help them in accidents prevention. This aim was achieved through the following: 1. Measure the frequency rate of accident among the mentally disable children before the counseling intervention. 2. Design and implement the counseling intervention for mothers. 3. Measure the frequency rate of accident after the months following the counseling intervention. 4. Evaluate the effectiveness of counseling intervention to decrease the rate post counseling in comparison to pre. This quasi experimental study was carried out at two Special Needs Care Center in Cairo where availability of the needed sample. The subjects were consisted of 48 mothers caring their children with mentally disable, male or female, aged 6 to 12 years. Data were collected using an interview questionnaire form to assess mothers` knowledge and practices. A pilot study was conducted on 10% of the study sample to determine the final form of the questionnaire. The main findings of the study were as follows: