Assessment of Mother's Practice toward Their ‎Children with Upper Respiratory Tract ‎Diseases

Abstract

The findings of the study have proved that there is a high significant positive relationship between the mothers^' practice and their demographic variables (age, educational level, occupation, residential area). In general, practice of mothers related to upper respiratory tract diseases was low however, the mothers applied preventive practices towards their children with upper respiratory tract diseases..A quasi-experimental study was conducted in one of pediatric teaching hospital in Babylon city from the end of December 2013 till the beginning of March 2014, in order to identify mothers' practice of their children with upper respiratory tract diseases.

Aims of the study: To assess the practice of mothers toward upper respiratory disease under five years of age, it is aimed to find out demographic characteristics of mothers like age, level of education and occupation, and to find out demographic characteristic of child regarding age and the type of feeding.

Methodology: Purposive sample of (50) mothers' who accompanied their children with upper respiratory disease have been selected. The reliability of the instrument was determined through test and the validity through a panel of experts.  The data were analyzed through the application of descriptive statistical analysis that include (frequency, the mean, the mean of scores, and percentage) .

Results: According to the interpretation and discussion of the study findings, the following conclusions were found (40%) of mothers their age between (18-23) years.(40%) of mothers are within the level of education from primary school.(84%) of child age are less than one year. 40%) of child are with mixture feeding, (85%) of mothers use household herbs for their children with cough. (70%) of mothers don't use of woolen clothing rather than clothing to keep from cold for their children with obstruction of nose and (88%) of mothers do not measure the  body temperature for their children .

Recommendations : Health educational program should be done for mothers regarding upper respiratory disease. Mass media should play a role in educating the family or mothers concerning upper respiratory disease. Providing  education programs for the mothers about the (breast feeding, home care, preventive measures). and further study should be conducted for larger  samples