KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICES OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS TOWARDS FIRST AID MANAGEMENT OF BURNS AMONG CHILDREN UNDER FIVE YEARS IN BURAMBA CELL ONE BUSHENYI DISTRICT

ABSTRACT

While burns take seconds to occur, injuries incurred result in morbidity and mortality among children under five years.

The purpose of the study was to assess knowledge and practices of community members towards first aid management of burns among children under five years in Buramba cell one Bushenyi district.

The study adopted a descriptive cross section design using a convenient sampling technique. Out of the 30 respondents in the study, majority were females25 (83.3%), most respondents 11(36.7%) were above 36 years, 14(46.7%) had never attended school and 22(73.3%) were peasants. Most of the respondents 19(63.3%) had average knowledge towards first aid management of burns. Among the practices done by community members, majority of the respondents 22 (73.3%) would not cool the burn with cold water and among the other used practices mentioned, most of the respondents 26.7% used cooking oil, sugar and salt respectively.

Although community members had average knowledge on first aid management, there is still a big gap to sensitize the community on the recommended first aid practices emphasizing the application of only cold water on the burn injuries and discouraging traditional home remedies for managing burns in children under five years.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABSTRACT....................................................................................................................................ii

COPYRIGHT...............................................................................................................................iii

AUTHORIZATION.....................................................................................................................iv

DEDICATION...............................................................................................................................v

AKNOWLEDGEMENT..............................................................................................................vi

LIST OF FIGURES.......................................................................................................................x

ABBREVIATIONS......................................................................................................................xii

DEFINITIONS............................................................................................................................xiii

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND...........................................................1

1.0 Introduction............................................................................................................................1

1.2 Problem statement.................................................................................................................3

1.3 Purpose of the study/Broad Objectives..................................................................................4

1.4 Specific objective...................................................................................................................4

1.5 Research questions.................................................................................................................4

1.6 Justification of the study........................................................................................................4

CHAPTER TWO...........................................................................................................................6

LITERATURE REVIEW.............................................................................................................6

2.1 Introduction:..........................................................................................................................6

2.1.1 Demographic characteristics...............................................................................................6

2.1.2 Burns in children under five years......................................................................................6

2.2 Knowledge of community members towards first aid management of burn in

children under five years.............................................................................................................7

vii

2.3 Practices of community members towards first aid management of burns in

children under five years.............................................................................................................7

3.4 Study population..................................................................................................................10

3.5 Sample size determination...................................................................................................11

3.4 Inclusion criteria..................................................................................................................12

3.4.4 Exclusion criteria..............................................................................................................12

3.5 Definition of variables.........................................................................................................12

3.6 Data collection instrument/research instrument..................................................................12

3.7 Data collection procedure....................................................................................................12

3.8 Ethical consideration...........................................................................................................13

CHAPTER FOUR:......................................................................................................................15

ANALYSIS AND PRESENTATION OF DATA......................................................................15

4.1 Introduction..........................................................................................................................15

4.2 SECTION A: Demographic characteristics of respondents................................................16

4.3 SECTION B: Knowledge of community members towards first aid

management of burns.................................................................................................................17

4.4 SECTION C: Practices of community members towards first aid management

of burns in children under five years.........................................................................................21

DISCUSSION, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS............................................24

5.1 Discussion............................................................................................................................24

5.1.2 Findings on knowledge of community members towards first aid

management of burns among children under five years at Buramba cell one...........................24

viii

5.1.3 Findings on practices of community members towards first aid management

of burns among children under five years at Buramba cell one................................................25

5.2 Conclusion of the study.......................................................................................................26

5.4 Implications to the nursing practice.....................................................................................27

APPENDIX I: CONSENT FORM.............................................................................................32

APPENDIX II: QUESTIONNAIRE..........................................................................................33

APPENDIX III: INTRODUCTORY LETTER........................................................................36

APPENDIX IV: MAP OF UGANDA SHOWING BUSHENYI DISTRICT...............................37