Caustic substances and home detergent poisoning remain a threat to the health of young children. The aim of the present work was to estimate the occurrence of household poisoning due to detergents and to study some demographic and behavioral correlates.
Material and methods: Through systematic random sampling technique one tenth of all women attending pediatric and family medicine clinics in King Khalid University Hospital over two months were selected and interviewed to complete questionnaire. They were asked about history of poisoning due to detergents in their family in addition to their demographic-and practice regarding storage, use and disposal of detergents.
Results: The sample amounted to 318 mothers with mean age 34.2+/-7 13 years. 55(17 3%) reported history of poisoning due to detergents in their families Housewife mothers mothers with ?5 children, not reading detergents' labels, using detergents' containers for food and mixing different detergents; all were significantly associated (P<0.05) with higher rates of detergents poisoning in families (24.6%, 25.3%, 30.6%, 35.7% and 50%, respectively).
Recommendations: health education programs concentrating with storage, use and hazards of detergents are recommended for mothers.