Domestic accident prevention for children: perceived susceptibility by the caregivers

Abstract

Objective: to describe the perception of home caregivers of children about the susceptibility of children under their care for the child domestic accidents. Method: exploratory, descriptive, and a qualitative study carried out in Natal/RN, Brazil, with 19 caregivers of children. The data were analyzed based on the Collective Subject Discourse and analyzed based on the perceived susceptibility, one of the pillars of the Health Belief Model. Results: all subjects deemed avoidable child domestic accidents. There were discordant perceptions regarding changes of risks to these accidents and the susceptibility of the house inhabited for these episodes identified. This triggered the development distinct categories, pointing from the existence of various risks to the nonrecognition of susceptibility to such events. Conclusion: it is necessary that as a health educator, the nurse performed comprehensive actions and directed to inter-sectoral caregivers to prevent such accidents.