ABSTRACT
Pressure Ulcers [Pus] remain a significant and complex health problem in health care settings. It is related to human suffering, pain, disfigurement, and financial burden. Only few studies about PUs incidence and prevalence have focused on paediatric patients whereas PUs prevention and management are generally extrapolated from the adult population. Determining PUs prevalence among children in Jordan and exploring the allocation of prevention measures to at risk populations. A point prevalence survey was conducted on 784 inpatient children in university, private and governmental hospitals in Jordan. A modified European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel [EPUAP] PUs prevalence survey form was used. PUs were classified according to the 2009 EPUAP and the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel [NPUAP] grading system. Risk of PUs development was assessed using the 2009 Glamorgan scale for risk assessment in paediatrics. The overall Pus prevalence was 8.2% [n=58] and decreased to 1.8% when Grade Iwas excluded. The sacrum was the most often affected site [75.8%, n=44 of 58].For the various at risk sub groups, paediatric critical care and surgical units showed the highest PUs prevalence of 43.1% and 36.2%, respectively. Of the 400 children evaluated to be at risk of PUs development, only 10% received prevention in terms of equipment and/ or repositioning. The PUs prevalence among children in Jordan is comparable to that reported for other countries utilizing the same methodology. Despite relatively low PUs prevalence, few patients at risk received adequate prevention. Since PUs risk assessment scales are not frequently used in Jordan, there is a need to emphasize knowledge of prevention and interventions as a key to reducing PUs prevalence