Factors associated with women's antenatal plans to use a baby walker: A cross sectional study

Abstract

Objective The objective of these analyses was to explore maternal antnatal decisions about baby walker use, factors associated with these decisions and the relationship between antenatal plans to use a walker and postnatal walker use. Design Cross sectional study. Setting Mothers-to-be (n = 1174) participating in a cluster randomised controlled trial of an educational package to reduce walker use in 64 general practices in the East Midlands of the United Kingdom. Method Data on plans to use a walker, socio-demographic and ecnomic characteristics, partner's views on walker use, knowledge of walker-related injury and attitudes towards walkers were collected at entry to the trial by means of a self-completion questionnaire. Data on post-natal walker use was collected by postal questionnaire nine months after delivery. Results The majority of mothers-to-be (74 per cent) had already decided whether or not to use a walker prior to the birth of their baby and onthird were planning to do so. Several factors were identified which may be useful for identifying mothers-to-be who are undecided about walker use antenatally; these include partner's views on walkers, parity, houing tenure and attitudes towards walkers. Antenatal plans about walker use had high positive and negative predictive values for predicting posnatal walker use. Conclusion Education regarding walker use will be an important method for reducing walker use until walkers are no longer available to purchase first or second hand. The results of this study will assist health professionals in identifying which mothers-to-be are likely to be undcided about walker use and this group may be more receptive to health education than those who have already made a decision.