Abstract

Objective: To assess the knowledge and practice regarding first aid management of choking among Saudi parents of children aged below 14 years in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Methodology: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from March 2022 to May 2022 and included 410 Saudi parents from Jeddah. Data were collected using a validated online self-administered questionnaire distributed through social media platforms. The questionnaire assessed socio-demographic characteristics, preventive practices, knowledge regarding choking management, and sources of first aid information. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 28. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, t-tests, and one-way ANOVA were applied.
Results: Most participants were mothers (79.8%), married (90.7%), and university educated (71.2%). Approximately 64.1% had not attended previous first aid training courses. Although 73.2% reported awareness of choking caused by foreign bodies, only 30.5% correctly identified chest thrusts and back blows for infants younger than 1 year. Social media (18%) and internet websites (17.9%) were the most common sources of information. Significant associations were found between participant age and preventive practices (F=2.918, p=0.034), and between previous first aid training and correct management of choking in children older than 5 years (p=0.013).
Conclusion: Saudi parents demonstrated moderate awareness regarding childhood choking; however, substantial deficiencies remain in practical first aid knowledge, particularly concerning age-specific emergency management techniques. Community-based educational programs and certified first aid training are urgently needed to improve parental preparedness and reduce preventable choking-related morbidity and mortality.

Key words: First aid, choking, foreign-body airway obstruction, parents, pediatric emergency.