Evaluation of the effectiveness of health education on first aid with the provision of first aid kits among rural households of India: A quasi-experimental study

Abstract

Introduction: The World Health Organization indicates that injuries contribute to an estimated 4.4 million deaths each year, representing nearly 8% of all deaths globally. These figures underscore the critical need for preventive measures, especially considering the wide range of injury types and their severe consequences. First aid education is one of the most effective methods for preventing injury-related morbidity and mortality in the community. Yet, despite its importance, there remains a significant gap in its implementation. Methods: A community-based, uncontrolled before-after intervention study was conducted among 400 participants. After baseline assessment of first aid knowledge and skills, participants received a combined intervention consisting of a 1-h first aid training session and provision of a first aid kit. After 3 months, their knowledge and skills were reassessed to determine the effectiveness of the intervention. Results: In the 80-point knowledge assessment, the study showed a statistically significant improvement in participants scores (p value < 0.001). There was a statistically significant improvement across age, sex, educational level, family income, and occupation. In the 100-point skill assessment tool, the median score improved from 39 (IQR 37.8, 48.9) before the intervention to 87 (IQR 84, 88.9) after the intervention (p value = 0.018). Conclusion: First aid health education, combined with the availability of first aid kits, effectively increased participants’ knowledge and skills in managing emergencies. These findings highlight the importance of targeted interventions to enhance emergency preparedness across diverse populations in low-resource settings.