Educational Program for Empowering Mothers of Fewer Than Five Children to Overcome Sickle Cell Crisis

Abstract

Background: one of most blood disorder hereditary is sickle cell anemia; it has a series crises and results to children who have it. Also, empowerment is measurement that established in order to enhance the self-determination and autonomy via support and engagement. Therefore, the level of mothers' education and their engagement are important elements for caring with high-quality the children who have sickle cell crises (SCC).

Objective: To empower mothers of fewer than five children to manage sickle cell crises through engagement and education.

Method: A quasi-experimental (pretest/ posttest) research design was used.

Setting: The study was conducted in pediatric hematology clinic at Minia University Hospital for Obstetrics and Pediatrics.

Sample: A purposive sample composed of 50 mothers who have fewer than five children to manage sickle cell crises.

Tools: Two tools were used to collect data including, first: Interview questionnaire sheet, second: Empowerment scale.

Results: Result of this study showed that there was significant improvement in mothers' knowledge about sickle cell crises in post/test.

Conclusion: after the implementation of the program there was remarkable improvement of mothers' knowledge. Mothers' empowerment was low in pre/test and improved in post/test with statistical significant difference between pre and post/test.

Recommendations: There should be a continuous developing educational program for empowering and engaging mothers in caring for their children with sickle cell anemia.