RT Journal Article
T1 Maternal knowledge of pediatric first aid in Riyadh Addressing gaps for improved child safety and women’s health outcomes
A1 Mohammed Alwasedi, Afnan
A1 Al-Wathinani, Ahmed M.
A1 Gómez Salgado, Juan
A1 Abahussain, Mohammed A.
A1 Alnajada, Asem
A1 Goniewicz, Krzysztof
AB Childhood injuries are a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with mothers often being the first responders insuch emergencies. In Saudi Arabia, despite high educational attainment, maternal preparedness for pediatric first aid remainsunderexplored. This study aims to evaluate maternal knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) concerning pediatric first aid inRiyadh, with a focus on identifying key gaps and informing interventions in line with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. This descriptivecross-sectional study surveyed 385 mothers residing in Riyadh between May and September 2023. Data were collected througha structured and validated questionnaire available in Arabic and English, distributed via social media platforms. The questionnaireassessed socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding pediatric first aid. Statistical analysiswas conducted using SPSS version 23, with descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests (Mann–Whitney U and Kruskal–Wallis)employed to analyze group differences. The reliability of the instruments was measured using Cronbach’s alpha (α = 0.867).The majority of mothers (69.2%) were aged between 20 and 40 years, and 66.1% held a university degree. While 97.4% of therespondents reported being aware of first aid, significant gaps in knowledge were observed. Although 76.8% of the participantsknew how to apply pressure to a bleeding wound, only 42.3% correctly identified how to preserve a lost tooth, and just 12.3%knew the appropriate response to seizures. Mothers with formal first aid training had significantly higher knowledge scores(P < .01), and education level was a significant predictor of better knowledge (P < .05). Social media was the most frequentlycited source of information (37.6%), followed by first aid training courses (27.4%). Despite high awareness, this study identifiessubstantial gaps in maternal knowledge of first aid for pediatric emergencies, particularly in managing specific situations such asseizures and dental injuries. These findings highlight the urgent need for structured first aid training programs tailored to mothersin Riyadh. Incorporating first aid education into Saudi Arabia’s public health initiatives, particularly Vision 2030, could significantlyimprove maternal preparedness and enhance child safety
PB Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins
SN 0025-7974
SN 1536-5964 (electrónico)
YR 2025
FD 2025-05
LK https://hdl.handle.net/10272/25657
UL https://hdl.handle.net/10272/25657
LA eng
NO Alwasedi, A. M., Al-Wathinani, A. M., Gómez-Salgado, J., Abahussain, M. A., Alnajada, A., & Goniewicz, K. (2025). Maternal knowledge of pediatric first aid in Riyadh: Addressing gaps for improved child safety and women’s health outcomes. Medicine, 104(7), e41611. https://doi.org/10.1097/md.0000000000041611
NO The authors would like to extend their appreciation to KingSaud University for funding this work through the ResearchersSupporting Project number (RSPD2025R649), King SaudUniversity, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
DS Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Huelva
RD 14 jul 2026