Objective

To identify the prevalence of home accidents in children and the associated risk factors.

Methodology

Descriptive and transversal study developed between August 2009 and July 2010. A convenience not probabilistic sampling was generated. A structured questionnaire was administered to parents or care providers of several children younger than 5 years old, who during the study visited a first attention level medical unit of the Mexican Institute of Social Welfare in the Federal District, Mexico.

Results

288 care providers were interviewed and a 67% accident-prevalence was found. A significant- difference related to the sex of the minor was not found (χ2 = 0.007, p = 0.93). Falls represented the main cause of accidents (83.9%). Children of parents with primary school as their maximum level of studies showed a higher probability of suffering accidents. There was an association between a lower level of preventive measures of care providers and the prevalence of accidents (χ2 of tendency = 6.50; p = 0.01).

Conclusions

These results differ from previous evidence related to the magnitude of the problem -a higher prevalence was found in this study. Also, a relationship was found between the school level of the parents and the prevalence of accidents suffered by their children. It is necessary to strengthen the home preventive measures in order to avoid accidents in children.