MOTHERS KNOWLEDGE RELATED PREVENTIVE MEASURE OF PNEUMONIA IN SLUM COMMUNITY, KARACHI, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Background: Pneumonia is the leading cause of death of children under five years of age. The considerable number of children having pneumonia has difficulty to reach health services in the appropriate time due to their mother's failure to recognize the seriousness of their infection. Methods: Present cross-sectional study was performed by using a close-ended, adapted questionnaire comprising of 15 closed-ended items. Data was gathered through a convenient sampling method. The calculated sample size was 120 subjects of the female gender. Written consent was taken from each participant before filling of the questionnaire. Data was entered and analyzed in SPSS version 21.00. Results: Out of 120 subjects, 59.2% study participant was illiterate, 51.6% subjects were in the age group of 31 to 41 years. 15.8% of women had fair knowledge whereas 55.5% of women did not have knowledge about pneumonia. And 28.7% of women they did not know what is pneumonia. 60.8 % of respondents were unable to recognize sign and symptoms of pneumonia. Only 19.2% of participants know vaccination of pneumonia should be made essential for children. Conclusion: The study concluded that mother had scanty knowledge of pneumonia its preventive measure, and immunization. The government should also provide awareness through mass media, so that the mortality and morbidity rates can be reduced and many valuable lives can be protected.