Assessment of the Poisoning among the Child Under Five Years in Mosul City

Abstract

Objectives: The objective of the present study is to identify the occurrence of poisoning in children at age less than five years Mosul City.

Methodology: This study included 200 children under 5 years attending at the Emergency Department Unit at Ibn-Sina Teaching Hospital in Mosul City, were (123) males and (77) females in the period (1/11/2010) to (30/12/2010).

Results: The results of the present study showed that the highest percentage of the studied children at patients aged between (2-3) years, were of (40%), while in male is more than female with percentage (61.5%). The petroleum distillates most common type of poisoning was of (38.5%). Low socioeconomic status and illiteracy of mothers were the leading cause of poisoning among children.

Conclusion: The study concluded that kerosene oil poisoning was the most common with the age group between (2-3) years most commonly involved. Poisoning was the most common in young mothers and in those households having greater than 3 siblings. Literacy rate of mothers correlated significantly with poisoning cases with the highest (58%) poisoning cases in children with intermediate mothers. In most of the cases (75%) poison was within easy reach. This study highlights the fact that ignorance, neglect and carelessness on part of the parents lead to cases of poisoning.

Recommendation: Researcher recommends preparing an educational program to educate parents and to introduce them to toxic substances and how it is stored and safe use, and through newspapers and television, which can help reduce cases of poisoning in children.