Vitamin D and calcium deficiencies are common worldwide, causing nutritional rickets and osteomalacia,
which have a major impact on health, growth, and development of infants, children, and adolescents. Widespread
prevalence in all age groups including toddlers, school children, and adolescent in both rural and urban areas. the
major reasons for the worldwide spread of vitamin D deficiency has been lack of awareness of mothers about
vitamin D, health benefits, and prevention of deficient states across populations. Educational programs about
importance of vitamin D for bone health help to prevent long-term health consequences. Aim of the study: The aim
of the study was to explore effect of health belief model-based education on mothers’ knowledge, practice and
attitude regarding vitamin D deficiency of their children. Design: A quasi-experimental research design was used to
conduct the study. Setting: This study was carried out in Pediatric Outpatient clinic, Benha University Hospital. Sample: A
purposive sample (100) of mothers and their children. Tools of data collection: Tool (I): A structured interviewing
questionnaire: It was consisted of four parts: Part (1): Personal characteristics of mothers'. Part (2): Personal
characteristics and medical history of the children. Part (3): Mothers' knowledge related two main areas: vitamin
D and its deficiency and nutritional rickets. Tool (II): Mothers attitude assessment scale to assess mothers attitude
about importance of vitamin D and vitamin D supplementation. Tool (III): Mothers' reported practice: It was
designed by the researchers to assess mothers' reported practice regarding care of children with vitamin D
deficiency. Tool (IV): Health belief model questionnaire: The questionnaire consisted of 25 items used a 5-point
Likert Scale to measure perceptions of behavior of mothers related children with vitamin D deficiency. Results of
this study revealed that, there was a highly statistically significant difference observed between the studied
mothers total knowledge, attitude and mothers reported practice regarding care of children with vitamin D
deficiency at pre, post and after three months of health belief model education implementation P= ( |
