Assessment of Parents’ Awareness about Urinary Tract Infections in Children of Babylon Province

Abstract

Background: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the commonest infectious diseases in children. Early recognition and prompt treatment are vital aspects in its management to prevent complications. The major challenges for parents, clinicians, and health workers are related to the wide variation of disease presentation. So the parents must be fully informed about UTI in children. Objective: To assess parents’ awareness about UTI in their children and determine the main factors that may affect the degree of parents’ awareness. With the enhancement of parents’ awareness via correction of any wrong answers, resolving any question or confusion. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted from March 2021 until the end of June 2021 and included 300 parents of children aged 2–12 years, presented with symptoms suggestive of UTI visiting teaching hospitals, primary health care centers, and urological and pediatric private clinics in Babylon province. Parents were interviewed for about 10–15 minutes by using a predesigned questionnaire. Results: Mean age was 32.20 ± 8.81 years. Females comprised the majority of study participants (77.67%), whereas males comprised the remaining (22.33%). All of the fathers were married, as were 95.71% of mothers. Most fathers had university or higher education (55.22%), whereas most mothers had below-university education (57.08%). Most of the parents had medium income (85% of fathers and 83% of mothers). About two-third of them reside in urban areas (68% of fathers and 64% of mothers). Two children account for higher rank of children number (28%). Fever was the most frequent presenting symptom (65%). Overall parents’ awareness score was medium in 50% of participants and high in 49%. Similarly, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment scores were nearly equal between high (46.67%, 44.33%, and 44.67% respectively) and medium (45.67%, 45.67%, and 45.67% respectively), while prevention score was high in 52%, complication score was medium in 59%. Symptoms and diagnosis scores were significantly higher in residents of rural areas. Treatment and prevention scores were significantly higher in those with higher education. Complication score was significantly higher in those with higher children number, male, illiterate, and rural residents. Conclusions: Parents in Babylon province have an acceptable level of awareness about UTI in their children, with highly educated parents having more degree of awareness about UTI treatment and prevention than those with a lower level of education. Parents from rural areas have more information about UTI symptoms, diagnosis, and complications than those from urban areas, with important role of experience on the parents' awareness about UTI complications.