Parents’ Awareness and Knowledge about Rickets Prevention in Erbil City:A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Vitamin D deficiency and nutritional rickets are still health problems in developing countries.

Aim of the study: To assess the parents' knowledge and awareness about rickets prevention.

Methods: A cross-sectional design was used. Four hundred (400) samples were selected, who visited the Primary health care Centers by purposive sampling. The researchers interviewed face-to-face parents to collect data through the questionnaire. The data was collected for two months from the 1st May 2023 to the 1st July 2023, after approving the proposal from the Ethical Committee at the College of Nursing / Hawler Medical University (code No.12, - 19 June 2022). Regarding the reliability analysis, Cronbach’s alpha was α = 0.81 and α = 0.79 for the Parents’ Knowledge and Awareness about Rickets.

Result: A total number of 400 parents participated in this study. The mothers were two-thirds (270, 67.5%) of the samples. The highest percentage of age groups of 20 – 30 and 31 – 40 years old were among mothers (133,33.3%) and (137,34.3%) respectively, level of education (127,31.8%) was Secondary degree, and the economic status of most parents (300,75%) was fair. The highest percentage of knowledge was (123,45.6%) and (74,56.9%) appropriate level of Rickets among mothers and fathers themselves respectively and of Awareness (123,45.6%) and (74,56.9%) moderately aware level among mothers and fathers themselves respectively. A significant association was found between the level of education and economic status of participants and levels of total knowledge and awareness about rickets because of the P-value < 0.05.

Conclusion: Most visitors to Primary Health care centers were mothers. Most of the participants had a fair level of knowledge and moderately aware level. Finally, a significant association was found between the level of education and economic status of participants and levels of total knowledge and awareness about rickets because of the P-value < 0.05.