ASSESSMENT OF NURSES' KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICE REGARDING PNEUMONIA IN CHILDREN AT ALMACK NIMER UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL SHENDI· SUDAN, 2009

Abstract

Pneumonia is a major cause of under-five morbidity and mortality in Sudan. Pneumonia standard case management has been followed in Sudan through the National ARI Programme. No studies have so far looked at the inpatient case management of children admitted with pneumonia.

Objective: The objective of the study is to assess nurses' knowledge towards children with pneumonia, and to find out the relationships between their knowledge and their general information.

Methodology: A descriptive study was carried out at the Pediatric Ward Elmack Nimer University Hospitals. The study started from February, until September, 2009 on a purposive (non-probability) sample of 50 nurses working at the pediatrics care units. The data were gathered through the use of the constructed multiple choice questionnaires to evaluate the nurse's knowledge using checklist. The questionnaire consists of two parts, the first one is general information data and the second part is nurses' knowledge and practices of multiple choices. Descriptive statistical analysis procedure (frequency, and mean of score and standard deviation) was used to analyze data.

Results: The findings of the study indicated that nurses have moderate knowledge towards child pneumonia (knowledge and practice). There were no statistically significant association between nurses' knowledge and their general information.

Recommendations: The study recommended that great focusing should be directed towards the educational aspects at pediatrics care units by providing educational posters, guidelines, pamphlets and manuals to enhance nurses' knowledge and practices of pneumonia.