Evaluation of Knowledge regarding Shaken Baby Syndrome among Parents in Tabuk City

Abstract

Background: abusive head trauma (AHT) or shaken baby syndrome (or SBS), is an injury to a child's brain as a result of abuse. SBS can be caused by direct blows to the head, dropping, throwing or shaking a child. The prevalence of SBS has been reported to be 14-33.8/100 000 in children aged below one year. With a mortality rate of approximately 25%, a great portion of the survivors continue their lives with functional disorders including learning difficulty, behavior problems, advanced cognitive and developmental retardation, stroke and blindness. Shaking frequently occurs as a result of getting angry of a caregiver of a baby who cries in an unspecifiable way. Therefore, caregivers of babies should be aware of their level of stress and learn how to cope with stress. Shaken baby syndrome is a preventable problem. However, we have limited knowledge about how educated of caregivers about SBS especially in less urbanized regions such as Northern Borders including Tabuk city. Aim of the Work: to evaluate parents' knowledge regarding shaking baby syndrome in Tabuk city. Patients and Methods: The target population of this research are parents who have children up to one year old in Tabuk city. A questionnaire was administered to parents who have children from birth up to one year old. The participants were consented and then the questionnaires were distributed to them. The questionnaires involved questions regarding some demographics including age, educational level, nationality, how many children. Questions regarding Level of knowledge about SBS included: incidents of shaking their baby during the first year of life, awareness about the risk of shaking your child in first year, knowledge about the term shaking baby syndrome. All data obtained with questionnaire were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23. The chi square statistics were used to test our hypotheses and the distributions of categorical variables. Results: The total sample size was 92 participants. Descriptive statistics showed that 88% were Saudi, 60% were below the age of 40. Regarding education, 12% were illiterate. Regarding the knowledge about SBS, 57.61 % reported shaking the baby to make them quite within the 1st year of life. 67.39 % reported said they had no idea about the risks of shaken the baby during the 1st year of life. Moreover, about 70% reported they have never heard about what is called SBS. Conclusion: Majority of parents have never heard about SBS. Only 32% of the surveyed understood the connection of shaking with risks on the child's life during the 1st year and thereafter. Perception, knowledge of and attitudes towards SBS must be addressed by applying Shaken Baby Syndrome educational and Prevention Programs especially in less urbanized regions such as Northern Borders including Tabuk city.