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Mothers' knowledge about acute rheumatic fever
Parisa Kasmaei1, Zahra Atrkar-Roushan, Fereshteh Majlesi
1Iran-Rasht-Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Iran.
Paediatric Nursing
|November 15, 2008
Summary
Mothers demonstrated strong knowledge of rheumatic fever treatment but lacked understanding of its epidemiology, symptoms, infection routes, and complications. Enhanced health education is crucial for improving overall awareness of rheumatic fever.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Pediatrics
- Cardiology
Background:
- Rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease prevention rely on maternal understanding and cooperation.
- Effective primary prevention and secondary prophylaxis strategies are essential for controlling these conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess mothers' knowledge regarding various aspects of rheumatic fever.
- To identify specific areas where maternal understanding of rheumatic fever is lacking.
Main Methods:
- A questionnaire-based study was conducted with 443 mothers attending healthcare centers in Guilan province.
- Knowledge was evaluated across five key domains: epidemiology, symptoms, route of infection, treatment, and complications.
Main Results:
- While 86% of mothers possessed good knowledge of treatment, understanding varied significantly for other aspects.
- Knowledge levels were notably lower for epidemiology (34%), symptoms (4%), route of infection (27%), and complications (10.5%).
- Higher maternal education correlated with significantly better knowledge of rheumatic fever.
Conclusions:
- There is a clear need for expanded health education initiatives to improve public awareness of rheumatic fever.
- Targeted educational programs should address the identified knowledge gaps, particularly concerning symptoms and complications.
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