Mothers' knowledge about foreign body aspiration in young children

To evaluate parents' knowledge regarding foreign body aspiration (FBA) and determine the factors that are associated with lack of knowledge.

An 8-item questionnaire regarding knowledge of FBA was developed and distributed at regular check-ups for children younger than 24 months old.

Out of the 1766 questionnaires distributed, 1603 were recovered and most of them (1539) were answered by mothers. After omitting 49 questionnaires with incomplete data, 1490 questionnaires answered by mothers were analyzed. Only 4.3% [95% CI 3.3-5.3] of mothers did not recognize a small toy as a cause of FBA, while 20.2% [95% CI 18.2-22.2] did not know that peanuts and other nuts can be causes of FBA, and 48.1% [95% CI 45.5-50.6] did not know that they should not give peanuts to a child younger than 3 years old. Regarding clinical signs, 27.7% [95% CI 25.4-30.0] and 41.8% [95% CI 39.3-44.3] of mothers did not know that sudden choking and sudden coughing were symptoms suggesting FBA, respectively. Being a mother with a child younger than 12 months old and being a mother with a first child were independent risk factors for lack of knowledge about FBA, regardless of the age of the mother.

A substantial number of mothers lack knowledge regarding FBA. To prevent FBA and to make timely diagnoses, parents, especially mothers with children younger than 12 months old and mothers with a first child should be given adequate information.