Impact of Nutritional Health Education on Knowledge and Practices of Mothers of Anemic Children in El Othmanyia Village – Egypt

Ammal M. Metwally; Carine Hanna; Yasmine S. Galal; Rehan M. Saleh; Nihad A. Ibrahim; Nargis Albert Labib

doi:10.3889/oamjms.2020.4570

Authors

Ammal M. Metwally Community Medicine Research Department, Medical Research Division, National Research Centre (ID: 60014618), P.O. 12622, Dokki, Giza, Egypt
Carine Hanna Community Medicine Research Department, Medical Research Division, National Research Centre (ID: 60014618), P.O. 12622, Dokki, Giza, Egypt
Yasmine S. Galal Public Health and Community Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
Rehan M. Saleh Community Medicine Research Department, Medical Research Division, National Research Centre (ID: 60014618), P.O. 12622, Dokki, Giza, Egypt
Nihad A. Ibrahim Community Medicine Research Department, Medical Research Division, National Research Centre (ID: 60014618), P.O. 12622, Dokki, Giza, Egypt
Nargis Albert Labib Public Health and Community Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2020.4570

Keywords:

Iron deficiency anemia, nutrition education, knowledge, 24-hour dietary recall

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In Egypt, more than one in four children suffers from some degree of anemia.

AIM: This study was carried out to assess and improve the nutritional knowledge and risky nutritional habits of the mothers of anemic children aged 2–12 years old in El Othmanyia village.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: An interventional study was conducted among anemic children aged 2–12 years old and their mothers in El Othmanyia village, Egypt. The study passed through three stages over 1 and ½ years; pre-interventional assessment of awareness (n = 350), educational interventions targeting anemic children and their mothers, and post-interventional evaluation of change in awareness and practice.

RESULTS: The mean knowledge % score of mothers increased significantly after the intervention (82.2 ± 14.2 vs. 6.3 ± 5.8, respectively). Furthermore, the mean hemoglobin of the studied children increased significantly after the intervention (11.1 ± 0.7 vs. 10.5 ± 0.7). The percent of children with anemia decreased significantly from 100% to 40.3% after the intervention (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION: The knowledge and practices of mothers are moving in a desirable direction after the health education intervention. Hence, nutrition education is an appropriate, effective, and sustainable approach to combat iron deficiency anemia. Recommendations: A multiple interventional strategies between different ministries to set policies and guidelines that support the healthy nutritional behavior among children are recommended.

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