HEALTH BELIEFS, KNOWLEDGE AND SOCIAL INFLUENCE IN INJURY PREVENTION BEHAVIORS OF MOTHERS WITH YOUNG CHILDREN.
Contributors: Indiana University School of Nursing.
Published: 1993
Number of pages: 331
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Sociology, Individual and Family Studies.
Description: Home related injuries are a major cause of childhood injury morbidity and mortality in young children. It is the responsibility of caretakers to provide a safe environment free of potential hazards for these young children. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between attitudes, knowledge, social influence and other factors related to home safety practices of mothers. The theoretical framework was the Health Belief Model and the Theory of Reasoned Action.

A purposive sample of 141 mothers with children ages 1-3 years old were administered a structured interview in their home. The home was observed for different type safety hazards accessible to young children and the frequency of items for each type of hazard.

Susceptibility, seriousness, benefits, barriers, locus of control, self efficacy, social influence, knowledge and previous injury experience were directly related to home safety practices. The greater the maternal perceptions of susceptibility, seriousness, benefits, self efficacy, divine locus of control and social influence, the less frequently hazards were observed in the home. The greater the maternal perceptions of barriers, professional control, child control, and media control, the more frequently hazards were found in the home. Mothers with more safety knowledge and previous injury experience were more likely to safety proof their homes. Significant predictors of maternal safety practices were self efficacy and knowledge of the mothers, and age and birth position of the children. The older the children and the more perceived self efficacy, the fewer accessible hazards were observed in the home. The frequency of hazards were greater when the children occupied the oldest birth position and the mother had less knowledge and lower self efficacy perceptions.

Results suggest the need to increase knowledge and self efficacy related to injury prevention and to reinforce benefits. Health care providers must involve the clergy and significant others in prevention programs. Health policy should be directed towards minimizing barriers that adversely affect maternal injury prevention actions and allocating resources to implement and evaluate parental injury prevention programs.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 54-03, Section: B, page: 1338.

Thesis (D.N.S.)--INDIANA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF NURSING, 1993.

School code: 0815.