Health Status of Vulnerable Preschool Children and Their Mothers' Health Management

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to find out preschool children's health status and their mothers' health management in the vulnerable classes. METHODS: The assessment tool was developed, taken into consideration existing studies, materials produced by the customized visiting health care system, and review of visiting nurses of health centers and related experts. Data were collected January to February 2010 from 259 mothers by visiting nurses, and analyzed using SAS program for descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Body weight less than 3 percentile was found for 5.0% children and over 97 percentile for 7.7%. Atopy was found in 17.8% children, no hand-washing after toileting and before meal in 30.9% and 36.7% respectively, no breakfast in 15.8%, and irregular meal in 32.0%. Sex education was made by 45.7% mothers, regular dental check by 56.6%, and hearing and eyesight test by 61.1% and 66.8% respectively. Home environment for upbringing is 34.3 in the scale of 41, and accident prevention 17.5 in the scale of 22. CONCLUSION: It is necessary to make an intervention on children's weight, personal sanitation and meal time in the vulnerable classes. Mothers need to be educated for appropriate health care, and home environments to improve upbringing and accident prevention.