Mothers' Performance Regarding Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus and Their Children’s Adherence to Self-Care Practices

Background: Children with Type I Diabetes Mellitus (CTIDM) have a distinct emerging life-long multi-treatment requires, which had been an increased ratio over the recent decades, underscores the importance of effective management through assessing mothers' performance represented by good knowledge level and adequate practices which by role affects the adherence level of their CT1DM self-care as a major core for preventing life-long consequences. Aim: To assess mothers’ knowledge and reported practices regarding type 1 diabetes mellitus and their children’s adherence to self-care practices. Subjects and Method: A correlational descriptive research design was utilized in this study at endocrinology Department at Pediatric Hospital in Mansoura University. A convenient consecutive sampling technique was used for 54 mother and their children. Three tools were used to gather the required data: Tool (1) mothers' knowledge questionnaire; (2) mothers reported practice questionnaire; (3) children self-care scale. Results: The study revealed that 100% of the studied mothers had poor level of total knowledge and inadequate reported practices and 61.1% of children not adhered to self-care, while 22.2 % partially adhered. Conclusion: the total mothers' performance was unsatisfied and near two thirds of the children didn't adhere to self-care. Also, there was a statistically significant positive correlation between total mothers' reported practices with their level of knowledge and their children self-care adherence. Recommendations: Conducting diabetes-specific educational sessions based on daily real-life needs for both mothers and children related management of type one diabetes mellitus.