Abstract: In Rwanda, pneumonia is still public health concern among under five children with a prevalence of 23% as well attributes to 9% mortality. The main objective of this study was to assess Knowledge, attitude and practices of mothers on pneumonia prevention in children under five years attending Nyagatare district hospital. This was a cross-sectional study conducted at Nyagatare district hospital inpatient and outpatient maternal and child clinic from March to May 2024. A total of 423 mothers’ of under five children were assessed for socio-demographic factors, knowledge, attitude and practices using a various indicators in management of pneumonia. We examined any correlations between the variables affecting knowledge, attitude, and practices in respect to the treatment of pneumonia. To determine the factors influencing a mother's knowledge, attitudes, and practices, logistic regression was employed. Data analysis was conducted where by IBM SPSS package version 23 was used and all of questions about knowledge of mothers on childhood pneumonia were scored on 16, mothers who had 0-6 score had poor knowledge, mothers who had 7-12 score moderate knowledge and those with 13-16 score had good knowledge. For question related to attitude of mothers about childhood pneumonia was scored on 5, those with 0-1 score had poor attitude, from 2-3 score had moderate attitude and those with 4-5 score had good attitude. About practices of mothers toward childhood pneumonia, mothers were scored on 5, those with 0-1score had poor practices, those with 1-2 score had moderate practices and 4-5score had good practices. In 423 mothers, we found that 82.7% had moderate knowledge, 17.3% had good knowledge. About attitude, majority of mothers (78.1%) had good attitude while 20.9% of mothers had moderate attitude and 1% had poor attitude. On practices of mothers, about 73% had good practices, 26.5% had poor practices and 5% had good practices. Majority of mothers (84.2%) choose cold temperature or change of weather as cause of pneumonia, about the signs and symptoms of pneumonia, majority of mothers (23.4%) chose difficulty in breathing. Mothers who previously had a child suffering from pneumonia were approximately 6 times more likely to have knowledge of pneumonia than those who did not (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) 6.3 [95% CI 1.4-27.9]). Subsequently, mothers with more than three children were more likely to have knowledge of pneumonia compared to mothers with three or less children (AOR13.0 [95% CI 2.7-62.9]) and also those with higher levels of education compared to those with reduced levels of education (AOR 14.3 [95% CI 1.3-161.3]). In relation to health care seeking when a child is suspected of pneumonia, the majority of mothers (71.9%) visit nearly health center or health post. Majority of mothers (91.8%) seek care before 24 hours when suspect that the child ill pneumonia while few of mothers (8.2%) do it after 24 hours. Our research shows that mothers have gap about knowledge as we found that 82.7% had moderate knowledge. Thus, need to reinforce on health promotion activities to improve health seeking behaviors for sick children.
Keywords: public health, mother's knowledge, childhood pneumonia, treatment of pneumonia.
Title: KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICES OF MOTHERS’ ON PNEUMONIA PREVENTION IN CHILDREN UNDER FIVE YEARS ATTENDING NYAGATARE DISTRICT HOSPITAL, RWANDA
Author: Niyonsaba Jean Claude., Kinara Eric., Dr. Kalisa Richard
International Journal of Healthcare Sciences
ISSN 2348-5728 (Online)
Vol. 13, Issue 1, April 2025 - September 2025
Page No: 1-15
Research Publish Journals
Website: www.researchpublish.com
Published Date: 02-April-2025
