Mothers’ Knowledge and Practices regarding Care of their Children with Xerophthalmia.

Mohamed El-Sayed, Hayam; Rabie Abd El-Sadik, Basma; Mohamed Abduallah, Reda

doi:10.21608/jnsbu.2024.362499

Mothers’ Knowledge and Practices regarding Care of their Children with Xerophthalmia.

Authors

¹ B.Sc. (1995), Faculty of Nursing, Cairo University

² Professor of Pediatric Nursing- Benha University, Egypt

³ Lecturer of Pediatric Nursing - Benha University, Egypt

10.21608/jnsbu.2024.362499

Abstract

Background: Xeropthalmia is a wide range of ocular symptoms due to vitamin A deficiency that can affect school performance and social behaviors of children. Aim of the study was to assess mothers' knowledge and reported practices regarding care of their children with xerophthalmia. Research design: A descriptive research design was utilized to conduct this study. Settings: outpatient clinics of Benha Ophthalmology Hospital and Ophthalmology Clinics of Benha University Hospital. Sample: A purposive sample (n=130) of all available mothers regardless of their characteristics with their children suffering from xerophthalmia. Tools of data collection: Two tools were used, tool I: A structured interviewing questionnaire sheet including characteristics of the studied mothers, characteristics of the children, medical history of children with xerophthalmia and mothers' knowledge assessment sheet and tool II: Mothers’ reported practices assessment sheet. Results: Less than two-thirds of the studied mothers had poor total knowledge score, while less than one-third of them had good total knowledge score. Also, more than two-thirds of the studied mothers had inadequate level of reported practices regarding care of their children with xerophthalmia, while less than one-third of them had adequate level of reported practices regarding care of their children with xerophthalmia. Conclusion: There was a positive statistical significant correlation between total knowledge scores and total reported practices scores of the studied mothers regarding care of their children with xerophthalmia. Recommendations: Posters and leaflets should be available in children's hospitals and pediatric outpatient clinics regarding xerophthalmia.

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