Home first aid applied by the mother for the treatment of food poisoning for children

Objective(s): The objectives of this study are to assess first aid home for the treatment of food poisoning among children by mother and to find out the relationship between first aid home for the treatment of food poisoning and the demographic characteristics including age of mother, level education of mother, mother’s occupation, and family’s income. Methodology: A descriptive analytical study was conducted on mother who applied home first aid for the treatment of food poisoning in her children. The study was conducted at the emergency unit in Children Welfare Teaching Hospital and Child’s Central Teaching Hospital. Starting from 2nd Dec. 2012 up to the 15th Apr. 2013. To achieve the objectives of the study, a non-probability (purposive) sample of (60) mother reviewed the emergency unit for the treatment of food poisoning in her child suffering from food poisoning and according to special criteria. Data were collected by interview with mother of the child suffering from food poisoning. Instrument validity was determined through content validity, by a panel of experts. Reliability of the instrument was determined through the use of Pearson correlation coefficient for the test-retest approach, which was 0.85. Analysis of data was performed through the application of descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, and mean of score) and inferential statistics (correlation coefficient and one-way analysis of variance). Results: The results of the study indicated the level mean of scores related to first aid procedures relating to situations that food poisoning when the poisoning occurs and applied by mother was moderate level on half items and high level on half other from items. Conclusion: The study concluded most of mothers don’t have prior knowledge of the procedures used for ambulance cases of food poisoning in children. Recommendations: The study recommend the need to set up educational sessions for families especially the mother about how to first aid food poisoning in children and guide booklets or information sheet should be printed and distributed to mothers and families about food poisoning and first aid it, and these booklets or information sheet should be written in a simple style and handed out freely.