Evaluating Knowledge of Mothers With 0–24 Month Babies on Management and Preventive Measures for Diaper Dermatitis in Makka Region, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Introduction: Diaper dermatitis (DD) or nappy rash is characterized by the presence of skin erosion and reddishness caused by the prolonged exposure of the diapered area to urine and feces, commonly observed in babies or infants. The incidence of DD is found to be higher among children between the ages of 0 and 12 months. DD can cause an alteration in eating and sleeping patterns, increased crying, anxiety, and emotional stress. Aim: The present study is aimed at measuring the knowledge of the mothers with infants from 0 to 24 months about the management and preventive aspects of DD in the Makka region of Saudi Arabia. Results: The results of the present study showed that 59% of mothers present in the Makka region had good knowledge about the prevalence and management of DD. The findings of the study suggested that the age of the baby, gender, frequency of changing diapers, use of disposable diapers, cleaning, and treatment are related to the prevalence of DD. The socio-economic and demographical characters (age of mother (P<0.05) and educational of mother (P<0.0001)), number of children, age of child (P <0.05), use of diaper (P <0.05), type of diaper (P<0.05), cleaning and drying method (P<0.0001), treatment aspect (P<0.005) and introduction to solids (P<0.0001) are found to influence the knowledge of mother. Conclusion: Although most mothers were educated on DD, it is important to impart knowledge to parents and caretakers about the management, hygiene practices, and preventive measures of DD.