Assessment of Nurses' Knowledge about the Care of Children with Glucose-6- Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency

Abstract

Background: Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency is a genetic disorder that affects red blood cells, which carry oxygen from the lungs to tissues throughout the body. In affected individuals, a defect in an enzyme called glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase causes red blood cells to break down prematurely. This destruction of red blood cells is called hemolysis.   

Objectives: To assess of nurses knowledge regarding nursing care for children with Glucose-6- phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency at the maternity and child hospital in AL-Amara city to find out the relationship between the nurses knowledge and their demographic characteristics (age, gender, level of education, years of experience and training session.  

Methodology: A descriptive study assessment nurses' knowledge about Glucose-6- phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in children in child and birth hospital in Al-Amara city the present study was conducted for the period January 10th ,2022 to June 15,2022, the present study purposive sample comprised of (30) patients the questionnaire was a single section consisting of two parts. The first part was related to the demographic characteristics of the patients (age, gender, education level, social status) and the second part contains knowledge about the complications of the Glucose-6- phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency.                                                                              

Results: The analysis of data is performed through the application of description statistic (frequency, percentage and arithmetic mean and standard deviations) and inferential statistical to present the differences between the study sample. Sample were within (21-25 years) ( the table also shows that the most of participants ( 27) 90% were female. Also In regarding to the subjects level of education, The results show that half of them has diploma in nursing in addition, years of  experience years more than three quarters of nurses 25(83.4%) has (1-5 years) in the service. Addition, addition, the most of participants (25) 83.4% have training courses, and their most were number of training courses (1-5 sessions).     

Conclusion: The study concluded that the majority of participants have a high level of Nurses’ knowledge regarding nursing care for children with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase at the study sample. and there was no a significant relationship between nurses’ knowledge regarding nursing care for children with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and their and age.

Recommendations: The study recommended that continuous education and periodic training programs for all nurses held periodically and continuously so that the aim of these courses is to raise the quality of the nursing services provided, and adoption of brochures that contain key knowledge that nurses should know regarding therapeutic interventions for children with Glucose-6- phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency.