Parental Awareness Regarding Button Battery Hazards Based on An Online Questionnaire

Abstract

Button battery ingestion is a growing pediatric hazard with rapid, severe complications. This study assessed parental awareness of button battery risks among caregivers of young children in Benghazi, Libya, using a cross-sectional online questionnaire (21 items) distributed via WhatsApp groups of 13 kindergartens from October to December 2025. Data from 431 complete responses from parents and caregivers of children aged 0–6 years were analyzed using the Relative Importance Index (RII; high: 0.80–1.00; moderate: 0.65–0.79; low: <0.65). Respondents were mostly female (83.1%), aged 31–40 years (49.0%), and university-educated (71.5%). While there was high awareness of life-threatening risks (96.1%, RII=0.98) and general danger (86.9%, RII=0.93), gaps were identified regarding the speed of injury (14.4%, RII=0.57) and symptom recognition (29.0%, RII=0.64). Good practices included supervision (74.5%, RII=0.87) and emergency action (72.4%, RII=0.86), but awareness of using honey as an immediate intervention was poor (33.6%, RII=0.42). The internet served as the primary information source (57.1%), and 87.2% of participants desired more information. Good awareness significantly varied by education level (P=0.003). In conclusion, while parents recognize button battery lethality, critical gaps exist in symptom recognition, injury rapidity, and first-aid measures like honey administration, highlighting the essential need for targeted campaigns via healthcare and schools to bridge these gaps and prevent complications.