Parental Knowledge and Attitude Toward Children Foreign Body Aspiration in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Foreign body aspiration (FBA) causes morbidity and mortality in children. Caregivers play a major role in maintaining the children’s safety and well-being. Therefore, this study aimed to assess parents’ knowledge and attitudes toward children’s FBA in different regions of Saudi Arabia. Methodology: We used an online questionnaire to assess parents’ understanding of FBA, confidence in applying first aid, and details of any previous choking incidents. The data collection process started on May 2023 till July 2023. Statistical software “JMP” was used to analyze the collected data. Results: 60.55% of 1,280 total participants chose “1-2 years old” as the most common age group prone to choking. Most parents chose coins, toys, and button batteries as the most likely objects to cause choking, whereas only 1% chose raspberries and apples to cause choking. 72.03% of the participants believed that raspberry ingestion by children did not require immediate hospital transfer. 63.91% of the participants preferred removing objects from their children's reach to prevent choking incidents. Nevertheless, only 3.83% considered themselves very confident in applying first aid. Conclusion: This study revealed that many parents are aware of the life-threatening nature of FBA. Coins were the most frequently identified choking hazard. However, a few recognized raspberries and apples as choking hazards. Therefore, awareness needs to be raised by campaigns and educational workshops to correct misconceptions and increase parents' confidence in their first aid skills, as aspiration is commonly encountered in homes.