Knowledge on Health Aspect of Children Less Than Two Years among Mothers in Al – Ramadi City, Iraq

Abstract

The responsibility of mothers is mostly childcare, so their education is vital for children's illness and the influence on children's care. This study aims to assess the mothers' knowledge of children's health aspect less than two years. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the Maternity and Childhood Teaching Hospital in Al-Anbar governorate during January 2020. Two hundred and fifty married mothers who had children less than two years of age, at age (15 – 49) of mothers enrolled in the study. They were selected by non-probability convenience sampling technique. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16. The mean age of the study sample was 29 (±6.07). The illiterate and high educated were 16 (6.4%) and (38.8%), respectively. Their knowledge regarding breastfeeding (few hours after delivery starting breastfeeding) was (88.8%). About (56.8%) knew the benefit of breastfeeding for child and mother’s health, while only (3.2%) knew the benefit of its benefits for mothers only. Most mothers (92.0%) were known for vaccination programs for children under two years. About (86.0%) knew the benefit of vaccination of children under two years for prophylactic from disease, while only (1.6%) do not know the benefit of vaccination. The result also shows a significant association between (education of mothers, starting breastfeeding in few hours after delivery, benefit of breast feeding, social and psychological importance of breastfeeding) of mothers and age, education stage, and knowledge level. Knowledge regarding breastfeeding and vaccination and its importance among mothers was good. However, more strategies are needed to increase the health aspect of children less than two years among mothers in our community.