Impact of health education on maternal knowledge regarding choking prevention and first aid in children, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background: Choking is one of the leading causes of death among unintentional injuries in young children. Mothers are usually the first responders, and they must have a good knowledge about first aid. Multiple local studies showed low levels of FA awareness among parents. Public health programs in this field are scarce, and only a few studies have evaluated the efficacy of such strategies. Aim: Evaluating the efficacy of an educational video in improving maternal knowledge on choking prevention and first aid.Methods: A Quasi-experimental study was conducted among mothers visiting antenatal clinics at Al Wazarat health care center in Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A total of 241 mothers participated in the study. Data was collected via a self-administrated questionnaire distributed pre and post-intervention. The intervention was through an educational video. Results: There was a significant overall improvement in the level of maternal knowledge regarding choking first aid after the introduction of the educational video. The most commonly reported source of information was the mass media. Most preferred method to improve FA awareness was adding it to school curriculums.Conclusion: Choking First aid awareness among mothers in Riyadh city is not satisfactory, particularly regarding actions to be done with a choked child. Educational video was effective in increasing the knowledge level in this regard.