Compare the practice of infants' parents regarding prevention of accidents in ‎rural and urban area in Rasht

Introduction: Accidents are one of the main causes of mortality in the world, and its ‎prevention is an essential issue. On the other hand, accidents are a major cause of mortality ‎during childhood especially during infancy. The study of mortality rate in four provinces in ‎Iran showed that ‎‏60‏‎.‎‏2%‏‎ of all ‎‏1-59‏‎ month old mortality occurs in ‎‏1-11‏‎ month old age group ‎and the second cause of mortality is accident in this age. The most common accidents are ‎burn, suffocation, poisoning and brain injury which can occur in different places. ‎ Methods: This is a comparative- descriptive study. Sample consisted of ‎‏180‏‎ parents, referring ‎to urban and rural health centers. Data collection instrument consisted of two part ‎demographic characteristics and checklist of preventing accidents at home (burn, electrical ‎shock, suffocation and aspiration, poisoning, fall and injury) ‎  Results: Findings indicated that most samples (in city and village respectively had satisfactory ‎practice in preventing aspiration (‎‏97‏‎.‎‏7%‏‎ and ‎‏88%‏‎), poisoning (‎‏87‏‎.‎‏2%‏‎ and ‎‏86.6%‏‎), self-injury (‎‏80%‏‎ ‎and ‎‏68‏‎.‎‏8%‏‎). In regard to preventing falls, both group had unsatisfactory practice. Most parents ‎in city (‎‏53.6%‏‎), in comparison with villagers (‎‏36.6%‏‎) had better practice preventing burns. ‎Overall most parents in city (‎‏59.2%‏‎) had more satisfactory practice in comparison with parents ‎in villages (‎‏40%‏‎).‎  Conclusion: In attention to this point that most injuries are due to parents' neglect and ‎carelessness, lack of parents' knowledge, crowded family, huge or very small houses especially ‎in villages, it is recommended that parents become more aware of children’s developmental ‎stages in order to prevent physical, emotional and economic burdens.‎