Mothers' Health Practices Regarding Care of their Epileptic Children during Restriction of COVID-19 Outbreak

Mohamed Fathy Attia, Azza; Samir Ahmed El-husseiny, Hala; Abd El Aziz El Sayed Abd El Aziz, Rehab

doi:10.21608/ejnsr.2022.247189

Mothers' Health Practices Regarding Care of their Epileptic Children during Restriction of COVID-19 Outbreak

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Pediatric Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Port-Said University, Egypt

² Pediatric Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Damietta University, Egypt

³ Pediatric Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Mansoura University-Egypt

10.21608/ejnsr.2022.247189

Abstract

Background: Currently, the COVID-19 is considered one of the most severe health problems in the world. One of the most important chronic diseases common among children that need treatment for a long time is epilepsy, whose provision of appropriate medical treatment at the time of Corona has become one of the most considerable difficulties facing society during the pandemic outbreak. The aim is to assess the health practices of the mothers regarding caring for their children with epilepsy during the COVID-19 outbreak. The design: A descriptive design was utilized to perform the study. The Setting: The present study has performed the outpatient at the Psychological hospital, and Al-Naser Specialized Hospital for children in Port Said city, Egypt. Sample: A convenient sample of 80 mothers had epileptic children. Tools: Three tools were used to collect data, the first characteristics of mothers & children and the seizure severity scale. The second mother reported a practices checklist about caring for their epileptic children, and the third Change management of children's epilepsy during the COVID-19 outbreaks restrictions questionnaire. Results: revealed that about 57.5% of epileptic children have a moderate degree of epilepsy according to the epileptic scale, which also demonstrates that 55.0% of mothers had fair practice about epilepsy. In comparison, 41.2% of mothers had poor practice, and only 3.8% of mothers had a good practice. Conclusion: Negative change management child epilepsy during COVID-19 outbreaks restrictions pandemic. Perceived increases in seizures, reluctance to go to hospital and changes in routine care (sleep-physical activity) are likely to impact epilepsy management, and most mothers have fair practice about epilepsy. Recommendation: Further implementation of efficient telemedicine programs to epilepsy care and postpone routine follow-up to improve the care of children with epilepsy during the pandemic. Improve practices of mothers and epileptic children through visual aids, posters via phone or e-mail, clear language booklets, and group health education in hospital outpatient clinics.

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