Knowledge, Attitude and Practices (KAP) of Child Upbringing among Mothers Visiting OPDs of National Institute of Unani Medicine Hospital

Abstract

Background and Objective: Child rearing refers to bringing-up of children by parents or parent substitutes and influenced by child rearing knowledge. Parenting style and child rearing practices relate to many aspects of child development from infancy to the end of adolescence such as children’s cognitive development emotional development, school readiness, eating disorders, academic achievement, emotional well-being, delinquency and eating disorders. Hence considering the importance of child rearing practices upon the children, this study is taken up to analyze the knowledge, attitude and practices of child upbringing among mothers. Methodology: Present study was observational study conducted on 200 mothers having children aged 2–5 years, visiting NIUM Hospital, Kottigepalya, Bengaluru, to analyze the knowledge, attitude and practices of child upbringing among mothers. Duration of study was one year. A self-structured schedule designed to get more of quantitative and qualitative information regarding knowledge, attitude and practices of child upbringing was administered to all the mothers fulfilling the inclusion criteria. The data collected in the schedule includes three sections: 1. Demographic profile; 2. Mother’s Knowledge, Attitude and Practices regarding child upbringing; and 3. Mother-Child interaction scale. Results: The maternal education has positive impact on knowledge and relationship between diet and health, knowledge and practice of immunisation, their attitude towards importance of games for child development and mother-child interaction. Mother-child interaction increases if care is provided to the children by their mothers and number of hours spent/day with child. Mother-child interaction has no relationship with mothers’ habitat, religion, socio-economic status, marital status and total number of children. Study concludes that there is direct relationship with socio-economic status and mother’s knowledge of immunization.  Interpretation and conclusion: Mother’s education had an impact on knowledge of immunization and its practice and also on knowledge about diet and health. The mother-child interaction was found significantly related with marital status, education level, care provided and time spent with children.  Keywords: Child upbringing, mother-child interaction, maternal education

Cite this Article Umme Kulsoom, Muhib Jahan. Knowledge, Attitude and Practices (KAP) of Child Upbringing among Mothers Visiting OPDs of National Institute of Unani Medicine Hospital. Research and Reviews: Journal of Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy. 2017; 4(2): 16–24p.