Assessment of Facilitating Factors and Barriers Faced by the Mothers for Prevention of Home Accidents among Preschool Children: A Comparative Study in Selected Urban and Rural Community of West Bengal

Introduction: A comparative survey was conducted from December 2019 to January 2020 to assess and compare facilitating factors and barriers faced by mothers of preschool children for the prevention of home accidents among conveniently selected 120 mothers in the selected urban and rural communities of West Bengal. Method: Data were collected using semi-structured and structured questionnaires, 3-point rating scale, and an observational checklist. Result: The study results stated that there was no significant difference in knowledge score and stated practice between urban and rural community mothers (‘t’ = 0.984 at p ˂ 0.05) and (‘t’ = 1.718 at p ˂ 0.05) but there was a significant difference in observed practice between urban and rural community mothers (‘t’ = 6.505 at p ˂ 0.05). There was no significant difference between the barriers of urban and rural community mothers (‘t’ = -0.833 at p ˂ 0.05). In this study, there was a significant association between the knowledge score of participants and information received about home accidents, facilitating factors and type of family, and between barriers and mother’s age in the rural community. In the urban community, there was a significant association between the knowledge score of participants and information received about home accidents, and between facilitating factors and mother’s age. There was no significant association between the barriers and any demographic variable. Conclusion: Child safety is a social value that demands attention hence, this study findings therefore call for prompt and target group interventions.