ASSESSMENT OF PEDIATRIC FIRST AID KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND SKILL AMONG KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS IN ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Background: kindergarten age children are vulnerable to injuries. Since they spend much of their time in school, teachers providing first aid are paramount important.
Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitude and skill of kindergarten teachers towards deliv-ering first aid measures to children who sustain accidents and emergencies in the school com-pound.
Methodology: Across sectional study using stratified random sampling was conducted among kindergarten teachers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from December 2013 to August 2014. Pre-tested questionnaire was used after modifying from an instructor’s resource manual published by American Academy of Pediatrics. The passing score was set at 80% correct. On the skill part participants were requested to write a short note on how they performed. A logistic re-gression analysis was used to estimate the adjusted odds ratio between knowledge score and prior first aid training.
Results: In this study 423 teachers participated. There were 401 questionnaires appropriately completed. 388(97%) were females. 243(60.3%) gave first aid at least once. Only 11(2.7%) teachers achieved a passing score of 80% or higher. The average accuracy of questions re-garding first aid for convulsion, fainting, choking and insect bite was 23.7%, 25.4%, 30.7% and 31.9%, respectively. Frequently provided first aid was for nasal bleeding 171(71%), cut, puncture or bleeding from wound 110(45.45%), and choking 67(27.7%). Almost all agreed that giving first aid was helpful and important to learn. A logistic regression analysis showed scores significantly higher among teachers who took first aid before, adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR), 6.678; 95% Confidence interval (CI); 1.424-31.323 P-value = p=0.018).
Conclusion: The level of knowledge, attitude and skill of first aid practice among kindergarten teachers in Addis Ababa is low. There is a need to train teachers regarding first aid.