Mothers ' knowledge and Practices toward Their Children Suffering from Juvenile Diabetes: an Assessment Study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Faculty of Nursing Beni Suef University*, Pediatric Nursing department

2 Pediatric Nursing department, Helwan University

3 Pediatric department, Faculty of Nursing Ain Shams University

Abstract

Background: Juvenile diabetes remains one of the most complex chronic diseases in childhood. Adolescents and those of lower socio-economic status are at higher risk for poorer metabolic control and difficulties with psychosocial well-being. Juvenile diabetes can be associated with adverse effects on cognition during childhood and adolescence. Caring for children with Juvenile diabetes is typically the role of the mother. Mother must pay special attention to the promotion of good eating habits, stimulate physical activity, monitor blood sugar levels, make frequent visits to physicians and provide emotional support to the child. Aim of the study: This study aimed to assess mothers' knowledge and practices toward their children suffering from juvenile diabetes. Methods: This study was a descriptive, performed on 77 mothers whose children suffering from juvenile diabetes and attends to the out-patient pediatric diabetic clinic at the pediatric hospital affiliated to Ain Shams University Hospitals. Tools of data collection: A predesigned questionnaire to assess characteristics of the studied children and mothers, mothers' knowledge about juvenile diabetes and checklists of mothers' reported practices regarding care of their children suffering from juvenile diabetes. Results: Nearly two thirds of the studied mothers had unsatisfactory knowledge about juvenile diabetes, more than half of the studied mothers had incorrect reported practices regarding care for their children suffering from juvenile diabetes. In addition, there was a positive correlation between total knowledge of the studied mothers and their total reported practice. Conclusions: Mothers under study had unsatisfactory knowledge and incorrect reported practices regarding care of their children suffering from juvenile diabetes. In addition, there was a positive correlation between total knowledge of the studied mothers and their total reported practices. Recommendations: Establishing educational programs to improve knowledge and practices of mothers regarding care of their children suffering from juvenile diabetes. Further researches are needed to measure knowledge about juvenile diabetes in Egypt and its effect on the child care. Encourage the use of updated methods for education about juvenile diabetes as mobile messages, available means of information technology, one to one diabetes education and care for children and their mothers

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