Assessment of mothers' practices toward children with steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome at pediatrics hospitals in Baghdad city

الملخص EN

Objective (s) : To assess mothers' practices toward children with steroid–sensitive Nephritic Syndrome (SSNS) who are visiting nephrology consultation units, and to find out the relationships between their practices and the demographical data for mother and child.

Methodology : A descriptive study was carried out at nephrology consultation units of Baghdad pediatrics hospitals (Child's Central Pediatric Teaching Hospital, Al-kadimiyia Teaching Hospital, and Welfare Teaching Hospital) started from February 18th to the end of July 2009.

A purposive sample of (80) mothers who company their children were selected.

The data were collected through a constructed questionnaire, with two parts ; the first part is concerned with mother's and child's demographical characteristic, the second part is concerned with mothers' practices about steroid– sensitive nephritic syndrome.

An interview method was used to full questionnaire format.

The validity was determined through a panel of experts.

While, the reliability was determined through a pilot study.

The data were analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistical measures by using the statistical package of social science (SPSS) version (15).

Results : The findings of the study showed that mothers have poor practices (61.3 %).

The study results revealed that there is a significant association between mothers' practices and their educational level, and duration of the child's disease.

While mother's age, occupation, child's age, child's sex, child's age at onset (years), child's previous disease and heredity have no association with their practices.

Recommendations : The study recommends that health education for mothers would improve their practices.