Prevalence of domestic accidents in a rural area of Kerala: a cross sectional study

Background: Domestic accidents are important worldwide public health problems which require increased attention. A domestic accident means an accident that takes place at home or its immediate surroundings. Domestic accidents can result in disability and loss of productivity. The aim of the study was to find the prevalence of domestic accidents in a rural area and the various epidemiological factors associated with it. Methods: A community based cross sectional study was done in a rural area of Kerala. The study period was April-May 2016. Face to face interview with a responsible adult informant was done to collect information from 403 households consisting of 1826 individuals using a semi-structured questionnaire after getting consent. Data was tabulated using MS Excel and analysed using SPSS version 20. Qualitative variables expressed as percentages and association found out using Chi square test.Results: The prevalence of domestic accidents in the community was found to be 10.5% (9.14 – 11.95, 95% CI). Majority of the victims were females (66%). Falls were the most prevalent type of domestic accident (33.5%) and it was found to be significantly associated with age, educational status, place of occurrence and activity during accident. First aid kits were available only in 38.2% of houses. Conclusions: Increased awareness, specially among female population is needed to reduce domestic accidents. Take extra care of the extreme ages as they are more vulnerable to falls. It is essential that every house has a first aid kit.