"Safety of Children: The Unmet Needs": Analysis of Enviromental Risk Factors for Childhood Safety at an Asian Setting"

Background: Sri Lanka proudly possess the improved health indices with regard to neonatal and childhood mortality in the SAARC region. According to the National Injury Surveillance of the Ministry of Health, in 2018, 12 000 lives are been taken away by accidents and have become a significant killer of children and productive youth.

Objectives:

1. Assess enviromental safety at home setting

2.Assess enviromental safety at primary school setting

3. Assess enviromental safety at preschool setting

4. Assess enviroment safet at play park setting

5. Assess safety of toys

6. Assess parental knowledge, attitudes and pratices regarding toys

Method: Descriptive cross sectional study series. Data gathered via interviewer administered questionnaires from 10 government preschools, primary schools and play parks each. 200 bystanders of inward children participated in the home safety study. 40 households were visited by co investigators inperson to check the data accuracy. 400 pieces of toys were analyzed in the toy safety study. 200 parents participated in the assessment of parental knowledge on toys.

Results: Primary schools: play area and out door enviroment were unsafe(55%) and school play ground equipment showed extreme unsafety(95%)

Pre schools: faulty equipment(48%) with lack of resilient surface protection(67%) with lack of repair and maintenace(57%)

Play parks: unsafe rocking equipment (57%) and other unsafe play equipment

Homes:unsafe stairways(49%), satistically significant corelation between maternal education and home safety(P<0.05)

Toys: poor information displayed on labels of battery operated toys(94%), heavy metal containing art and craft material(100%) and toys with sharp edges((91%)

Parental knowledge on toy safety: poor in battery operated(72%), projectile(69%) and lead containing toys(60%)

Conclusions: Safety standards are lacking different settings as well as in childhood toys. Parental knowledge of toy safety carries numerous lapses. These areas need to addressed with different strategies to ensure safety of children.