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Correlates of unsupervised bathing of infants: a cross-sectional study

Mirjam E J van Beelen1, Eduard F van Beeck, Paul den Hertog

  • 1Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, P.O. Box 2040, Rotterdam 3000 CA, The Netherlands. m.vanbeelen@erasmusmc.nl

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
|March 6, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Infant drowning is a major risk. Parents with more children or lower self-efficacy are more likely to leave infants unsupervised during bathing, increasing drowning risks.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Safety
  • Injury Prevention
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Drowning is a leading cause of infant mortality.
  • Unsupervised bathing significantly increases drowning risk in infants.
  • Understanding factors associated with unsupervised bathing is crucial for prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify correlates of unsupervised infant bathing.
  • To explore socio-demographic and psychological factors influencing bathing supervision.
  • To inform targeted drowning prevention strategies.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional study of 1,410 parents with infants.
  • Data collected via questionnaire on bathing supervision, socio-demographics, and Protection Motivation Theory constructs.
  • Logistic regression analysis to determine correlates of unsupervised bathing.

Main Results:

  • 6.2% of parents reported leaving their infant unsupervised in the bathtub.
  • Parents with older children were more likely to leave infants unsupervised.
  • First-time parents, non-Western migrant fathers, and those with higher self-efficacy, response efficacy, and perceived severity were less likely to leave infants unsupervised.

Conclusions:

  • Parental self-efficacy and risk perception are protective factors against unsupervised infant bathing.
  • Targeted interventions for parents with multiple children and specific demographic backgrounds may reduce drowning risk.
  • Healthcare professionals should emphasize the critical importance of constant supervision during infant bathing.

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