Background: Xerophthalmia is a progressive eye disease which results from inadequate function of the lacrimal glands due to vitamin A deficiency. The aim of this study was to assess mothers' knowledge, practices and attitudes regarding their preschool children with xerophthalmia. Research design: Descriptive research design was utilized. Setting: This study was conducted at Out Patient Clinics of Benha Ophthalmology Hospital. The sample of this study: included 100 mothers chosen randomly from total 400 mothers. Tools: Two tools were used I): A structured interviewing questionnaire was used to assess a-demographic characteristics of the mothers and their children, b-medical history of the children, c-knowledge of the mothers about xerophthalmia and vitamin A and d-reported practices of the mothers regarding care of their children with xerophthalmia, II): Scale to measure mothers' attitude regarding xerophthalmia and importance of vitamin A. Results: 34% of mothers aged 30 -34 year with mean age 31.2±5.22, 56% of their children were female with mean age 2.78±0.94. 44% of the mothers had poor total knowledge score, 40% of them had unsatisfactory practices score regarding xerophthalmia, and 70.0% of the mothers had positive attitude regarding xerophthalmia and importance of vitamin A. Conclusion: There were highly statistically significant relations between total knowledge score of mothers about xerophthalmia and their age, educational level and monthly income and there was positive statistically significant relation between mothers total knowledge scores, total attitude scores and total reported practices score about xerophthalmia. Recommendations: Health educational program should be developed and implemented for mothers had children with xerophthalmia to provide them with the most recent information and proper practices toward care of their children. |
