Effectiveness of Promoting Mothers’ Caring Practices Regarding Their Down Syndrome Children on the Family Coping

Abstract

Down Syndrome is a lifelong chromosomal disorder caused by an extra copy of chromosome number 21 inside each of the body's cells. This genetic disorder, causes mental retardation and developmental delays. Aim of this study was to determine the effect of promoting mothers' caring practices regarding their children with Down Syndrome on the family coping. Subjects and Method: A quasi-experimental research design used for sixty mothers and their children with Down Syndrome at Pediatric Outpatient Genetic Clinic of Tanta University Hospital. Three tools were used for data collection: Structured Interview Schedule to assess socio-demographic and mothers , knowledge about Down Syndrome, Mothers' Care Reporting Sheet and Family Crisis Oriented Personal Scales. Results: The total scores of knowledge for more than three quarters of mothers were low before educational program while, more than half of them had moderate level of knowledge and less than half of them had high level immediately after program. The total scores of most mothers , reported care were unsatisfactory before educational program while, the majority of them had satisfactory care immediately and one month after program. Family adaptation for nearly two thirds of caregivers was fair before program while, all of them had good adaptation immediately after program. Conclusion: There was a significant improvement of mothers , knowledge, reported care and family adaptation towards crises. Recommendations: Continuous health education program should be applied to mothers of children with Down Syndrome in health care facilities to improve their knowledge and practice that affect family adaptation.