Mothers’ Knowledge, Reported Practice and Attitude Regarding Accident Prevention for Children Suffering from Autism

Kamal AbdAllah AboSoliman, Loza; Amin Mohamed, Iman; Mohammed Elhossiny Abdelbasir, Reham; Ahmed Wafeek, Areeg

doi:10.21608/ejhc.2025.445011

Mothers’ Knowledge, Reported Practice and Attitude Regarding Accident Prevention for Children Suffering from Autism

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ 1-B. Sc. Nursing Science (2010)

² 2-Professor of Pediatric Nursing Faculty of Nursing - Ain Shams University

³ 3-Professor and Head of Developmental and Behavioral Unit – ASU

⁴ 4-Lecturer of Pediatric Nursing Faculty of Nursing - Ain Shams University

10.21608/ejhc.2025.445011

Abstract

Background: Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) do not have developmental abilities to protect themselves from injuries. This study aimed to assess the mothers’ knowledge, reported practice and attitude regarding accident prevention for their children suffering from autism. Design: a descriptive research design was utilized to achieve the aim of this study. Settings: The study was conducted at child psychiatric clinic, out-patient Pediatric specialized clinics affiliated to Ain Shams University hospital & Faculty of Childhood Studies, special need center affiliated to Ain Shams University & out-patient of Child Psychiatric Clinic affiliated to Abbasyia Psychiatric Mental Hospital. Subjects: a purposive sample was composed of 200 mothers accompanying their children suffering from autism in the previous mentioned settings. Data collection tools: Tool 1: A pre-designed interviewing questionnaire. Tool II: A Modified Likert scale. Results: 56% of the studied mothers had average knowledge level about autism and preventing accidents. Also, 86.5% of the studied mothers had unsatisfactory reported practices level regarding accidents that happen to their children who suffer from autism. Moreover, the majority 84.5% of the studied mothers had positive attitude level regarding preventing accidents for their children with autism. Conclusion: there was a positive correlation between mothers’ knowledge about autism, with their practices regarding accidents, and attitudes toward preventing accidents to their children with autism. Recommendations: Continuous health education program and training courses regarding accident prevention and first aid among mothers who had children suffer from autism.

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