Investigation of Child Development Students' Awareness of Home Accidents and Safety Precautions for 0–6-Year-Old Children: A Qualitative Research

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the awareness of undergraduate Child Development students regarding home accidents that children aged 0-6 may experience, as well as the safety measures that can be taken to prevent them. Materials and Methods: A qualitative descriptive research design was employed, with a sample of 33 undergraduate students selected through criterion sampling. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed thematically using qualitative data analysis software. Results: In this study, five main themes were identified as Risk Perception, Interventions and Precautions, Level of Knowledge, Training and Awareness Needs, Experience and Observation. Additionally, seven sub-themes related to main themes and, 30 codes were determined. The findings indicate that participants' awareness of home accidents is mainly influenced by their perception of risk and preventive actions. In contrast their awareness about personal experiences or the need for training is limited. Conclusion: Literature suggests that increasing the awareness of Child Development undergraduate students about preventable home accidents can contribute to strengthening protective and preventive approaches to children's safety. Accordingly, it is recommended to implement initiatives to raise awareness about home accidents, develop targeted educational programs for parents, and integrate curriculum-based courses for university students on home accidents and preventive strategies.