Knowledge and first aid management of choking children among parents in a
tertiary care hospital, Sri Lanka

Knowledge and first aid management of choking children among parents in a
tertiary care hospital, Sri Lanka

Choking, First aid, Knowledge, Parents

Background Choking is a critical medical emergency caused by the obstruction of airway due to foreign objects.
Timely and appropriate first aid is essential to prevent further complications and save the lives of choking victims,
especially children. However, inadequate knowledge of first aid management in choking can lead to delayed or
incorrect interventions, resulting in significant morbidity and mortality among children. Therefore, this study aimed to
determine the level of knowledge and identify the sources of information regarding first aid management of choking
among parents whose children were admitted to a Specialized Children Hospital, Sri Lanka.
Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out including 425 parents of children admitted to Sirimavo
Bandaranayake Specialized Children Hospital, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. An interviewer-administered questionnaire
was used to collect data on socio demographic characteristics, awareness of potential choking hazards and first aid
management. Collected data were analyzed using SPSS software. The knowledge was categorized as good or poor
using a 50% cut-off value.
Results Majority of caregivers were mothers (n=343, 80.7%). Overall, 38.8% of participants demonstrated good
knowledge regarding choking first aid with the mean knowledge score (12.8±3.95). Although general awareness of
choking first aid was high (87.8%), only 18.8% had received prior first aid training. The main sources of information
included healthcare professionals (53.1%), media (46.9%), and family members (41.6%). Notably, 21.9% correctly
identified universal sign of choking as clutching the throat, and 50.8% recognized the symptoms of complete airway
obstruction. However, only 10.4% were aware that first aid for choking should be initiated within three minutes.
However, no significant association was identified between the knowledge of first aid for choking children with first
aid training, male gender, age and educational attainment of their parents.

Nammuni Kushmitha Keshara Thabrew1

, Shasanthi Lakshika Udawaththa1

, Ransi Nimesha Thenuwara1
,

Savindi Chamathika Tissera1

, Erandi Uthpala Siriwardhana1

, Subangi Sivaganeshan1
,

Deegoda Gamage Dewni Tharushika1

, Heseetha Thananchayan1

, Majury Thirugnanaselvan1
,

Nisal Dulanjith Sooriyaarachchi1

, Shanmugaratnam Sivakumar1

, Samath Dhamminda Dharmaratne2
and

Lahiru Sandaruwan Galgamuwa3*

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12873-025-01450-2

2026

PERI IRAWAN

PDF

ENGLISH

TEXT