Mothers' Knowledge, Attitude and Reported Practices regarding their Children with Conjunctivitis at Sohag University Hospital

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Community Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Sohag University

2 Community Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Helwan University

3 Community Nursing Faculty of Nursing, Sohag University

Abstract

Background: Conjunctivitis is a common worldwide eye disease; especially among children. Conjunctivitis is responsible for 30% of all eye problems. Awareness of mothers regarding conjunctivitis is very important to prevent conjunctivitis among children. Aim of the study: Assess mothers' knowledge, attitude and reported practices regarding their children with conjunctivitis at sohag university hospital. Design: a descriptive cross - sectional   study was used. Setting: This study conducted at Ophthalmic Outpatient Clinics at Sohag University Hospital. Sample: A purposive sample of mothers was compromised 190 mothers who attended to the previous setting with their children suffer from conjunctivitis. Tools: One tool was structured interview questionnaire consist of four parts, : Part I: Demographic characteristics of mothers, demographic characteristics of children and child past and present history of conjunctivitis. Part II: Mothers’ knowledge regarding conjunctivitis. Part lll: Mothers’ attitude regarding their children with conjunctivitis. Part IV: Mothers’ reported practices regarding care of their children with conjunctivitis. Result: The study results revealed that, 63.2% of the studied mothers had average level of total knowledge regarding conjunctivitis, 64.9% of the studied mothers had negative total attitude level toward conjunctivitis and 83.2% of the studied mothers had inadequate total reported practices level related to caring of child with conjunctivitis. Conclusion: There were high statistically significant positive correlation between studied mothers total knowledge, total attitude and total reported practices regarding conjunctivitis. Recommendations: Implementing an educational program for mothers to improve knowledge, practices and attitude toward conjunctivitis.

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