Risks and prevention strategies of road traffic injuries in children in urban Malawi: perspectives of caregivers and traffic police officers
Loading...
Date
2020-10-01
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
In urban Malawi, road traffic injuries (RTIs) in children are on the increase, and yet there
are no studies that have been conducted to explore the risk and prevention strategies for childhood RTIs. This study explored the caregivers and traffic police officers’ perspectives of risk and prevention strategies of childhood RTIs in urban Malawi. The specific objectives of the study were: to describe perceptions of caregivers and traffic police officers on risks associated with childhood RTIs, and to describe prevention strategies. Ethical approval and clearance certificates were granted by the College of Medicine Research and Ethics Committee to conduct the study. The office of the Inspector General of Police, Hospital Directors of Kamuzu, and Queen Elizabeth Central Hospitals granted written authorizations to collect data from their institutions. The study used a qualitative exploratory design. 32 participants were recruited purposively; 20 caregivers of children hospitalized with RTIs at Kamuzu and Queen Elizabeth Central Hospitals, 12 traffic police officers in Lilongwe and Blantyre. All participants gave written consents and in-depth interviews using semi-structured interview guides were administered by the researcher face- to- face to collect data which was recorded verbatim. The data was converted into
categories, then coded to establish subthemes. The predetermined themes were developed from the study objectives. Findings: the participants’ perceived risks for childhood RTIs were: overpopulated urban areas with poor road infrastructure, permanent buildings within road reserve spaces, as well as role fulfillment challenges particularly by caregivers, drivers, and school teachers that manifest as lack of adult supervision on child road users, exposing children to child labour that involves road usage; lack of teaching on road safety and drunken driving. The participants’ perceived prevention strategies for childhood RTIs were: improving road safety knowledge through outreach programs; promoting compliance with road safety rules and regulations through improving adult
supervision of children on safer road usage, more protection of children from child labour;
improving road infrastructure with more traffic lanes, traffic signs, computerized monitoring of traffic offenders; avoiding placement of permanent buildings within road reserves.
In conclusion, there is a need for a multisectoral approach to the implementation of the
prevention strategies for childhood RTIs in urban Malawi.