Prevention of childhood poisoning in the home: overview of systematic reviews and a systematic review of primary studies

Abstract

Unintentional poisoning is a significant child public health problem. This systematic overview of reviews, supplemented with a systematic review of recently published primary studies synthesizes evidence on non-legislative interventions to reduce childhood poisonings in the home with particular reference to interventions that could be implemented by Children's Centres in England or community health or social care services in other high income countries. Thirteen systematic reviews, two meta-analyses and 47 primary studies were identified. The interventions most commonly comprised education, provision of cupboard/drawer locks, and poison control centre (PCC) number stickers. Metaanalyses and primary studies provided evidence that interventions improved poison prevention practices. Twenty eight per cent of studies reporting safe medicine storage (OR from meta-analysis 1.57, 95% CI 1.22À2.02), 23% reporting safe storage of other products (OR from meta-analysis 1.63, 95% CI 1.22À2.17) and 46% reporting availability of PCC numbers (OR from meta-analysis 3.67, 95% CI 1.84À7.33) demonstrated significant effects favouring the intervention group. There was a lack of evidence that interventions reduced poisoning rates. Parents should be provided with poison prevention education, cupboard/drawer locks and emergency contact numbers to use in the event of a poisoning. Further research is required to determine whether improving poison prevention practices reduces poisoning rates.

The Effectiveness of Different Interventions to Promote Poison Prevention Behaviours in Households with Children: A Network Meta-Analysis

“…For the NMAs, data on the effectiveness of poison prevention interventions was extracted from primary studies identified in 2 newly-undertaken systematic reviews: a systematic review of reviews [ 15 ] and a systematic review of primary studies published since the most comprehensive systematic review [ 16 ].…”

Poisoning in children and adolescents notified at a toxicology center in the Northeast of Brazil

“…12,13 According to WHO report 2 effective interventions in reducing poisoning should involve, in addition to the exclusion of toxic substances, broader strategies that encompasses the legal obligation of adopting embalagens especiais para crianças (EEPC) (seal proof packages for children) and packaging and marketing with non-lethal doses. 2,14 Also according to this report, the use of keys in cabinets and drawers are effective practices for prevention. There is no sufficient scientific evidence proving that guidance to parents/children and actions of good matters at home reduce poisoning in childhood.…”

Accidental Poisoning in Children and Adolescents Admitted to a Referral Toxicology Department of a Brazilian Emergency Hospital

“…1 Among 15-to 19-year-olds, it represented the 13th cause of death worldwide in 2014. 1 Moreover, poisoning leads to a substantial number of hospitalizations 2 .…”