Mother's Coping among Primary School Child with Down Syndrome

Samir Mahmoud, Amany; Hamed Farahat, Nadia; Ibrahim Fouad, Amal; Abo Baker Abd ElLatif, Mona

doi:10.21608/ejhc.2022.218469

Mother's Coping among Primary School Child with Down Syndrome

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ B.Sc., Faculty of Nursing - Ain Shams University.

² Professor of Community Health Nursing, Faculty of nursing- Ain Shams University

³ Assist Professor of Community Health Nursing, Faculty of nursing-El- Fayoum University

⁴ Lecturer of Community Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing - Ain Shams University

10.21608/ejhc.2022.218469

Abstract

Background: Down syndrome (DS) or Down's syndrome, also known as trisomy 21,
is a genetic disorder caused by the presence of all or part of a third copy of chromosome 21.
When mothers of children with DS experience stress, they use certain strategies to cope with
this stress to regulate their emotions. Aim of this study: to assess mother's coping among
primary school child with DS. Design: A descriptive study design was used. Setting: The
study was conducted at three special needs schools (ALtarbih ELfikria) at Fayoum
governorate. Sample: A purposive sample was used, they were 95 mothers, and their
children. Data collection tools: First tool structured interviewing questionnaire, to assess
demographic characteristics of mothers, children, history of DS child, and to assess mother’s
knowledge about DS. Second tool: physical examination sheet for DS children. Third tool:
mothers' coping scale. Fourth tool: mothers' needs scale. Results: The study results showed
that, three fifths of mothers had negative coping patterns, in which more than two fifths of
them never able to cope with their children disability also, study results reported that the
economic needs were most important needs for mothers. Conclusion: More than two-thirds
of mothers had unsatisfactory level of knowledge regarding of Down syndrome. Religious
and doctrinal coping was the most coping strategy used by mothers, in which more than half
of mothers were always able to cope religiously. Recommendation: Provide premarital
counselling including necessitate investigation, insure proper antenatal care for pregnant
women and provide educational program to parents with DS child and encourage them to
participate in mentoring programs and receive rehabilitation services for their children.

Keywords