20Jan 2017

Mothers knowledge about the otitis media risk factors among children: Multi-centric Saudi study.

  • King Fahd Medical city, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
  • King Fahd central hospital, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.
  • King Khalid hospital, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
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Background: Identifying common risk factors of otitis media (OM) among children by caregivers, particularly mothers will help in controlling the disease and reducing its adverse outcome. Objectives: To determine the knowledge of mothers on the risk factors associated with OM and its determinants. Subjects and methods: A quantitative cross sectional study was carried out at King Fahd Medical city, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia among a representative sample of mothers attending Otolaryngology, pediatric and well-baby clinics at PSMC throughout the study period (December, 2016), irrespective of the child`s complaint provided that they had a child aged below 6 years. Data were collected using a modified Ear Infection Survey questionnaire, which included questions regarding the possible risk factors for otitis media. Results: The study included 218 mothers. Their age ranged between 17 and 55 (33.8±7.8) years. More than one third of them (39.4%) had more than three children. The most frequently known otitis media risk factors were male gender (94.5%), recurrent chronic rhinitis (84.4%), and absence of breast feeding (80.7%) whereas the lowest known risk factors were no existence of a vaccine (6.4%), Low socio-economic status (12.4%), day care attendance (16.1%) and malnutrition (19.7%). Overall, inadequate knowledge was reported among 71.6% of them. None of the studied risk factors was significantly associated with mothers` knowledge regarding otitis media risk factors. Conclusion: Mothers ‘knowledge of otitis media risk factors among their children is suboptimal. Therefore, a public health education campaign targeted mothers of young children is necessary.


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[Alaa Khalid Alatabani, Amany Ibraheem Mashi, Nada Mousa Mahdi, Mayada Riyad Alkhelaif, Esra Ali Alhwsawi and Sahar Hussain Madkhaly. (2017); Mothers knowledge about the otitis media risk factors among children: Multi-centric Saudi study. Int. J. of Adv. Res. 5 (Jan). 980-985] (ISSN 2320-5407). www.journalijar.com


Moataz Abdel-Fattah
King Fahd Medical city, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

DOI:


Article DOI: 10.21474/IJAR01/2840      
DOI URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.21474/IJAR01/2840