Maternal knowledge and Performance about Use of Iron and Multivitamin Supplements in children in Northwest, Tabriz-Iran

Background: Micronutrients deficiency, especially iron and vitamins, is a common nutritional problem among children under 2 years in Iran. The aim of the present study is to assess the awareness and performance of mothers about the use of iron and vitamin supplements in infants under 2 years. The pr...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Babak Abdinia
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Mashhad University of Medical Sciences 2014-04-01
Series:International Journal of Pediatrics
Subjects:
Online Access:http://ijp.mums.ac.ir/pdf_2438_6636be6585cc5c7c4585cd7530309d40.html
Description
Summary:Background: Micronutrients deficiency, especially iron and vitamins, is a common nutritional problem among children under 2 years in Iran. The aim of the present study is to assess the awareness and performance of mothers about the use of iron and vitamin supplements in infants under 2 years. The present study aims to assess the knowledge and performance of mothers referred to Children’s Hospital of Tabriz about the use of iron and vitamin supplements in infants under two years. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was performed on 762 mothers of 6-24 months infants referred to the Children’s Hospital of Tabriz in 2012 and 2013. Data was collected and analyzed through interviews with mothers about the use of iron and multivitamin supplements.Findings: The results showed that the number of mothers with high, moderate, and low awareness was 115 (15.09%), 456 (59.84%), and 91 (25.06%), respectively. The number of mothers with good, moderate, and poor performance was 186 (24.4%), 379 (49.74%), and 197 (25.86%), respectively. There was a significant relationship between education level and the performance of mothers. Conclusion: Periodic retraining courses for health staff, technicians, and nutrition and children experts play a key role in increased knowledge, attitudes, and practices of health staff. Such courses will improve the ability of health staff to transmit correct educations to mothers.Most important factor in avoiding the use of vitamin and iron drops is their taste and teeth stain, the production and use of supplements with better taste and fewer side effects can be effective
ISSN:2345-5047
2345-5055