AREMU SULIAH FISAYO

BACKGROUND xiv Child injury and violence remain major public health problems, especially in low- and middle-income countries where children are often exposed to unsafe environments, poor supervision, and harmful disciplinary practices, and caregivers play a central role in preventing these occurrences. OBJECTIVE To assess child injury and violence prevention practices in Ovia North-East Local Government Area, Edo State, to provide evidence that will improve child injury and violence prevention practices and reduce the health burden caused by these injuries. MATERIALS AND METHODS A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among 572 primary caregivers of children aged 0– 17 years in Ovia North-East Local Government Area, Edo State. A multistage sampling technique was used to select respondents. Data were collected using a pretested, interviewer-administered structured questionnaire. Data analysis was done using IBM SPSS version 27. Descriptive statistics were presented as frequencies and percentages, while chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression were used to determine associations and predictors. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS The majority of respondents were female (84.4%), married (81.3%), and aged 30–39 years (42.1%). All respondents were aware of child injury and violence. Overall, 64.9% had good knowledge, while 62.9% had a good attitude towards child injury and violence prevention. Falls, burns, and cuts were the most commonly identified forms of child injury, while physical abuse was the most commonly identified form of violence. Falls were also the most frequently reported injuries experienced by children under the caregivers’ care. A very high proportion of respondents reported witnessing violence against children, with physical abuse being the most common form observed. Overall, 71.7% of xv respondents had good preventive practices, although unsafe practices such as allowing unsupervised play and keeping medicines or hazardous substances within children’s reach were still noted. Factors significantly associated with child injury and violence prevention included age, education, marital setting, income, household size, and occupation. On multivariate analysis, age, education, and marriage type were significant predictors of knowledge, marriage type significantly predicted attitude, while occupation was a significant predictor for practice. CONCLUSION The study found that caregivers in Ovia North-East LGA generally had good knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding child injury and violence prevention. However, important gaps remain in specific areas of home safety and violence prevention. There is a need for sustained community-based health education, targeted caregiver support, and practical interventions aimed at improving child safety and reducing violence against children in the community. KEYWORDS: Child injury, child violence, Prevention, Caregivers, Knowledge, Attitude, Practices, Ovia North-East