Child supervision practices for drowning prevention in rural Bangladesh: a pilot study of supervision tools

J Epidemiol Community Health. 2010 Jul;64(7):645-7. doi: 10.1136/jech.2008.080903.

Abstract

Background: Injuries are an increasing child health concern and have become a leading cause of child mortality in the 1-4 years age group in many developing countries, including Bangladesh.

Methods: Household observations during 9 months of a community-based pilot of two supervision tools-a door barrier and a playpen-designed to assess their community acceptability in rural Bangladesh are reported in this article.

Results: Statistical analysis of 2694 observations revealed that children were directly supervised or protected by a preventive tool in 96% of visits. Households with a supervision tool had a significantly lower proportion of observations with the child unsupervised and unprotected than households without a tool. Families that received a playpen had 6.89 times the odds of using it at the time of the visit than families that received a door barrier.

Conclusions: Interventions such as the playpen, when introduced to households through community-based programs, are accepted by parents. Field trials are urgently needed to establish the effectiveness of barrier-based interventions at reducing under-five drowning mortality rates in low-income countries like Bangladesh.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Bangladesh
  • Child
  • Community Health Services / methods*
  • Drowning / prevention & control*
  • Health Education
  • Humans
  • Infant Equipment*
  • Models, Statistical
  • Pilot Projects
  • Process Assessment, Health Care / standards
  • Protective Devices*
  • Residence Characteristics
  • Rural Population