Abstract
BACKGROUND: Unintentional injuries are the primary cause of death and disability among children. This study aimed to examine the current status of home environments for children aged 0-6 years in the Shanghai area of China and assess the factors that pose safety hazards for unintentional injuries within households. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was carried out in Shanghai between November 2021 and October 2023. RESULTS: Parents from 1825 families, with 929 (50.90%) boys and 896 (49.10%) girls, participated in this research. In all, 752 children (41.21%) experienced unintentional injuries. The home environment posed a high risk of unintentional injuries in 1008 families (55.23%), medium risk in 381 families (20.88%), and low risk in 436 families (23.89%). The results showed a negative correlation between the occurrence of unintentional injuries and the status of the family environment; children in families with high-risk home environments were more likely to experience unintentional injuries (odds ratio [OR] = 1.490, confidence interval [CI] = 1.216-1.826), fall injuries (OR = 1.605, CI = 1.268-2.031), and external injuries (OR = 1.578, CI = 1.159-2.148). CONCLUSIONS: Parents should enhance their safety awareness by focusing on potential hazards at home and taking appropriate measures to improve the home environment, thereby creating a safe and comfortable setting for the healthy growth of their children.