Research-Based

งานวิจัย : ปัจจยัเสี่ยงของการได้รับสารพิษในเด็กก่นอวัยเรียนจังหวัดขอนแก่น
Risk Factors of Poison Exposure in Pre-school Children in Khon Kaen Province

โดย :

บทคัดย่อ ภาษาอังกฤษ

An analytical study for risk factors of poison exposure in pre-school children
in Khon Kaen Province was undertaken. The cases were children under 5 years of age, visited public hospitals during September 1997 – February 1999 for poison exposure. Data of risk factors categorized as host, agent and environment factors were collected according to prepared questionnaires, by interviewing caregivers of poison-exposed children as well as caregivers
of children in control group. The control group were children, never visited a hospital for poison exposure, similar age (not more than 6 months difference), same gender, and living in the same area. Study samples comprised of 100 cases and 289 controls. Analysis of data was by matched case-control, the ratio being 1:3.
By univariate analysis, the study found that the significant variables of host factor were the number of siblings, medicine-eating habit and highly reactive to change of stimuli character. Of agent factors, the significant variables were keeping chemicals in the house, chemical storing practice, chemical using practice, frequency of using chemicals, storing practice of left-over medicines/traditional medicines/cosmetics, types of packaging of chemicals, disposal practice of unused chemicals and packages. Of environment factor, the significant variables were a house with containers of used chemicals left around and insufficient/inappropriate supervision of children.
By multivariable analysis, there were only three significant variables: medicine-eating habit (OR = 2.23, 95%CI=1.44-3.45) of host factor, using practice of household chemicals (OR = 3.04, 95%CI=1.64-5.65) of agent factor, and a house with containers of used chemicals left around (OR = 2.36, 95%CI=1.11-5.02) of environment factor.
Investigators concluded that caregivers should never entice children to take medicines with words like they are candies/delicious’. When working with chemicals, caregivers must take precautions for protection of children. Investigation recommended the government support legislation on poisonous on poisonous products as follows: containers have child-resistant closures (CRCs) and labels have compulsory warnings such as ‘Keep Tightly Closed After Use and When Disposing’ and ‘Keep out of the Reach of Children’; packages have directions for safe use in the house having young children: manufacturers collect back disposing containers for recycling. Investigators also suggested that knowledge of poisoning and what to do in an emergency should be extended to caregivers of young children. Sufficient supervision of children and safe environment are never to be neglected.