Awareness and Practice of Febrile Convulsions First Aid Among Parents of Convulsing Children Admitted to Hospitals in Khartoum 2022

Abstract

Roaa Hussein Mursi Hamid, Roaa Babiker Bakri, Roaa Asim Mohammed and Sirageldin Mohamed Kheir Abdelrahman

Introduction: Febrile convulsion (FC) is a convulsive episode accompanied by fever in children under five years old. It is a common cause of hospital admissions and can induce fear and anxiety among parents and caregivers. Educating parents and caregivers about FC first aid and home management is crucial to alleviate these concerns.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the awareness and practice of FC first aid among parents of convulsing children admitted to hospitals in Khartoum. It also aimed to determine the socio-demographic data of parents, evaluate their knowledge about FC, assess their practices towards convulsing children, and correlate them with age, socioeconomic status, level of education and recurrence of FC.

Methodology: A cross-sectional hospital-based study was conducted on 288 participants from Ibrahim Malik Teaching Hospital, Turkish Hospital, Ahmed Gasim Hospital for Pediatric, Omdurman Hospital for Children, and Albuluk Hospital.

Results: The study included 219 mothers (76%), 36 fathers (12.5%), and 33 others (11.5%). Less than half of participants were between 20-30 years old (46.9%), 59% had a medium socioeconomic status, and 37.8% had a secondary level of education. Regarding knowledge about FC, 57.3% of participants had average knowledge, 17% had poor knowledge, and 25.7% had good knowledge. However, when it came to practice, the majority exhibited poor practice (89.9%), with only 10.1% demonstrating average practice.

The study also found a correlation between the knowledge and practice of parents with their age, educational level, and income. However, there was no significant association with recurrence of FC.

Conclusion: The study emphasizes the need for improved education and awareness among parents and caregivers regarding FC first aid and home management. There is a gap between knowledge and practice, highlighting the importance of targeted interventions and educational programs to enhance the care and management of convulsing children.

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