Mothers' Knowledge and Practices Regarding their Children with Acute Infective Conjunctivitis

Document Type : Original Article

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Abstract

Acute infective conjunctivitis is a common worldwide eye disease; especially among children. The purpose of this study was to assess mothers’ knowledge and practices for their children with acute infective conjunctivitis. Design: A descriptive research design was used in the study. Setting: This study was conducted in Ophthalmic Outpatient Clinics at Benha Ophthalmic Hospital. The Sample: Simple random sample which included 25 % of children with acute infective conjunctivitis who accompanied with their mothers in the above mentioned setting. The total sample included 250 children. Instrument:  An interview questionnaire was used to assess: Social characteristics of children, characteristics of mothers, mothers’ knowledge and practices regarding their children with acute infective conjunctivitis. Results: 68% of mother’s had poor total knowledge score, 14.8% of mother’s had satisfactory total practices scores regarding care of their children with acute infective conjunctivitis. Conclusion: there were a positive significant correlation between mothers’ total knowledge and practices scores regarding their children with acute infective conjunctivitis. Recommendation: Health educational program should be developed and implemented for mothers to improve and update them with the most current information about the disease and practices.

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