Background Domestic accidents are a major cause of death and undesirable incidents in children. It has adverse effects, health-wise and emotionally; even in the future. Moreover, the economic and social hub of Nigeria, Lagos state is lacking an evidence-based study on childhood domestic accidents. This study assessed knowledge on the types, causes and prevention; the prevalence of and management practices used in domestic accidents among mothers of children under five in Mushin Local Government, Lagos, Nigeria.

Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 326 mothers in Mushin Local Government, Lagos. The mothers were recruited using multistage sampling method. Data was collected using a semi-structured, pretested, interviewer-administered questionnaire through Kobo Toolbox software. It was analysed using Microsoft Excel 2016 and Epi- info 7.2.3.0. Chi-squared test was applied to study associations between the variables. P-value less than 0.05 was considered significant.

Results Most mothers had poor knowledge on the types and causes of domestic accidents (73%), 26% of them had moderate knowledge while only 2% of them had good knowledge on this. Cuts/wounds (61.7%) were the commonest type of domestic accidents occuring in the kitchen while falls were mostly recorded in the bedroom (60.1%), bathroom (84.6%) and the immediate surroundings (73.3%). The prevalence of domestic accidents over the last six months before the study was 27.5%, of which 45% were females and 43%, males. Falls (56.8%) was the most prevalent accident. Accidents occurred mostly in the kitchen (35%). Some of the mothers (62%) used first aid at home while others (75%) sought other forms of care including home treatment. Some mothers used potentially harmful remedies in management such as palm/black oils, salt, toothpaste, sheabutter, honey, eggs, malt, milk etc., depending on the domestic accident encountered. Sixty (60) mothers managed the accidents appropriately (68.18%) while twenty-eight (28) mothers managed them inappropriately (31.81%). There was only one death (1%) due to drowning and no recorded deformity. Only 9% of the mothers had good knowledge on preventive practices while 91% of them had poor knowledge. A factor significantly associated with mother’s knowledge on preventive practices was her level of knowledge on the types and causes of domestic accidents (P=0.0004)

Conclusion This study demonstrates that the knowledge of mothers on domestic accidents was generally poor especially for their level of education and socioeconomic status. They, however, mostly had appropriate management practices. There should be health education programs on prevention and first aid workshops for the management of domestic accidents.