Knowledge and practice of pediatric nurses regarding perinatal infections

The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and practice of pediatric nurses working in neonatal intensive care units regarding perinatal infections. All nurses working in neonatal intensive care unit in three hospital settings were asked to respond to a knowledge assessment questionnaire, an observation check list was used as well, as a tool for performance assessment. Results indicated that all studied nurses were diploma nurses, only 40% had a diploma with speciality. Generally, all of them showed poor level of knowledge regarding perinatal infection with no statistical significant difference between nurses performance and their total years of experience. Nurses knowledge level was positively affected by their educational level while their performance was affected by the hospital facilities. Many recommendations were made in relation to continuing staff education for upgrading nurses knowledge and performance, maintaining adequate supplies and facilities, make a manual of updated procedures check list book available for the nurses in the intensive care units

Involuntary smoking in infancy and childhood

The aim of this study was to identify the size of the problem of involuntary smoking in infancy and childhood and to assess the prevalence, severity, chronicity and the rate of recurrence of chest problems in infants and children with or without involuntary smoking. The study was conducted at the out patient clinic of Children's Assiut University Hospital. It included 200 infants and children 133 males and 67 females giving a ratio of 2: 1, aged from 1 month to 5 years suffering from lower respiratory tract infections in the form of bronchitis, bronchopneumonia and pneumonia. It was concluded that smoking adults produce a lot of harm to the respiratory tract of their children and infants. Parents should be advised, to refrain from smoking or at least not to smoke inside their homes

Effect of rheumatic heart disease as a chronic illness on psychological adjustment of school age children

A total of 100 children were divided into stratum according to their age group and sex to equal halfs, their age ranged between 8-12 years. The instruments used for data collection were psychobiogram [clinical assessment sheet], self-esteem inventory [SEI], and children depression inventory [CDI]. Descriptive statistics, comparison of percentage and analysis of variance were used for data analysis. Results of the study indicated that 74% of the sample had depression and 90% had impaired self-esteem. A highly significant relation was put into evidence between depressed children and nondepressed children in relation to dressing and grooming. A significant relation was found among nondepressed, depressed different levels of self-esteem and lie mean score. The study recommended that an appropriate plan should be extended to achieve maximal adaptive responses among chronically ill children