Factors affecting discontinuation of breast feeding of infants before their first birthday

The aim of this study was to identify the factors affecting discontinuation of breast feeding before the first year of life. The results revealed that about half the mothers who ceased breast feeding were less than 25 years old with low educational background, and the majority of them 82.7% worked outside home. They were primiparas in 60% of cases. Mothers who continued breast feeding tended to have sufficient amounts of food and fluids than others who ceased breast feeding. Certain types of food of fluids which increase milk production were cited by mothers. No significant association was observed between the sex of the infants and discontinuation of breast feeding. Almost all infants had normal birth weight and sucking ability. Maternal causes for discontinuation of breast feeding were insufficient mild, wearing pregnancy and breast problems. No apparent reason related to infants was reported in most instances, though congenital anomalies, poor sucking and refusal were cited by some mothers

Mother's knowledge and beliefs about management of acute respiratory infection [ARI] among children in Alexandria City

Acute Respiratory Infection or ARI represents one of the most prevalent and common diseases that affect infant and children, it ranks as one of the greatest causes of childhood mortality and morbidity especially throughout the developing countries. The national ARI control program as a component of the Healthy Mother Health Child Project [HMHCP] aimed at decreasing the percentage of infant mortality resulting from ARI. This paper reports on a study which was conducted to evaluate mother's knowledge and beliefs regarding the ARI and the role these knowledge and beliefs play with respect to early detection and management of the disease by the mothers. Results of the study have showed a statistical significant difference between mother's education and the frequency of children's attacks; and mother's ability to recognize dangerous signs of ARI. Educated and working mothers were more able to mention and identify predispoosing factors and were able to take preventive measures and to engage in the management of ARI. This study has clearly shown the importance of mother's education and it is therefore, highly recommended to educate the mothers about early detection and management of ARI in children

Maternal perception of temperament in chronically ill Saudi children

This study was conducted on 100 preschool children [49 males and 51 females] recruited from the King Fahed University Medical Center. Twenty-five children were diagnosed with leukemia, twenty-five with asthma, and twenty-five with congenital heart disease. For controls another twenty-five healthy children attending the outpatient clinic for well-child care i.e. immunizations were used. Maternal perception of their children's temperaments was assessed using an Arabic translation of the Preschool characteristics Questionnaire [PCQ], a modification of the Bate's Child Characteristics Questionnaire that consists of 32 items scored on a seven point rating scale. The PCQ is reduced to four temperament factors: Persistent/unstoppable; Unadaptable; Difficult; and Irregular. The mean scores for the chronically ill Saudi children were compared to those of the healthy Saudi children. The mean scores of the healthy Saudi children were also compared to the published norms for healthy Canadian Children. Children with chronic illness were more persistent/unstoppable [t= 3.05, P <.01]; less adaptable [t= -6.32, P< .01]; and more difficult [t= 2.8, P< .01] than healthy children. Compared to Canadian norms for healthy preschoolers, healthy Saudi children had significantly higher scores on the persistent /unstoppable factor [t=2.29, P< .05]

Post-partum anxiety and depression among Saudi mothers having pre-term infants

Mothers of premature babies may experience more anxiety and depression than other full term infants mothers. This study examined the level of anxiety and depression among Saudi mothers having premature babies. The study included 120 Saudi mothers from two maternity hospitals at El Riyadh city. Each mother was individually interviewed to assess her anxiety and depression level using Beck Depression inventory and Taylor Anxiety Scale. The findings revealed that Saudi mothers of premature infants had levels of anxiety and depression which ranged from mild to very severe in early post-partum days. Some factors such as age marital status and number of previous deliveries were found to be statistically significant determinants of depression, while parity an x-ray examination during ante natal period were found to be the statistically significant determinants of anxiety level

Maternal approach to breast feeding and weaning at Alexandria, Tanta and Assiut: a comparative study

The difference between varieties of cultures and subcultures can be found in the same country in which the individuals are brought-up. This study aims to investigate the difference of maternal approach about breast feeding and weaning process in different subcultural group in Egypt. Three hundred mothers [representing equally Alexandria, Tanta in Delta region and Assuit in Upper Egypt] were interviewed in the out-patient clinics of the pediatric University hospitals in each of the three cities. The results showed that mothers knowledge and practice regarding breast feeding was generally satisfactory, but mothers in Alexandria and in Tanta had better knowledge than those of Assuit. Although mothers lacked knowledge regarding weaning process in the three cities, mothers of assuit showed the lowest percentage

Early concerns of puerperal primiparous women regarding infant care

This study was conducted on a random sample of 50 primipara aiming at identifying their areas of concern regarding their own infant's care and the factors affecting these concerns. Results revealed that these women were inexperienced in infant's care, feeding being the area of greatest concern in 50% of them. Areas of little concern were bathing, diapering, crying, sleeping and care of stump. The most upsetting activities were the irregular schedule and getting up at night for feeding or diapering. A higher concern was experienced by younger, the illeterate, the housewives and women married for more than 5 years than the older, better educated, working women and those married for less than 5 years. Women experienced in, or reading about infant's care had significantly fewer questions and concern

Assessment of knowledge of students at Higher Institutes of Nursing of Alexandria, Tanta and Assiut universities about diarrhea

The study was carried out on the third grade students of the Higher Institute of Nursing [HIN] of Alexandria and Tanta Universities and second grade students of the Higher Institute of Nursing. Assiut University, who were studying Pediatric Nursing. A total of 86,60 and 34 nursing students from Alexandria. Tanta and Assiut Universities respectively were enrolled in the study to assess their knowledge about diarrhea and dehydration. A questionnaire interview sheet was developed. Data were collected over a period of four months. The results revealed that Alexandria students had a higher score of knowledge than Tanta and Assiut students. All the studied sample had incomplete knowledge about assessment of patients. It is recommended that Nursing Institutes should pay more stress on the assessment of learning style in order to identify learners who may have difficulty in achievement and to the use of different methods of teaching and learning experience to help these students in improving their knowledge

Developmental aspects of Egyptian children's definitions of pain

There are wide research projects allover the world trying to investigate how children think about the concept of pain. As a part of these researches, this study presents the developmental aspects of Egyptian children's definitions of pain. So, a group of 600 school-children aged 6-14 years acted as subjects. This sample included students form elementary and primary schools in Alexandria city. These students were examined about their definitions as well as several aspects of pain to see if a developmental pattern could be identified in the acquisition of a verbally mediated concept of pain. The results are congruent with a Piagetian developmental model, suggesting the possibility of delineating typical concepts of pain which correspond to successive stage of cognitive development