Unsafe storage of poisons in homes with toddlers.

BACKGROUND

The objective of this project was to assess the current nature and level of preventive actions that parents take to avoid unintentional poisoning among toddlers (11-18 months old).

METHODS

In 2004, we conducted a cross-sectional observational survey with self-administered questionnaires among parents with toddlers (n=1,722). Data were obtained on storage locations of medicines and cleaning products and supervision of children.

RESULTS

Overall, 50.1% of the toddlers were exposed to unsafe storage of possible poisonous products in the home. Parents were more likely to store medicines safely than cleaning products, and products were most often stored unsafely in the kitchen, where children were left unattended most often (69%). Households with one child were associated with unsafe storage of both medicines and cleaning products. Lower educational level of the mother and unemployment of the mother were both associated with safe storage of medicines. Mother's ethnicity, the child's ability to walk, and the education level of the father were associated with storage of cleaning products.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study are an important first step for the development of effective interventions to reduce unintentional poisoning in toddlers' homes.