الفهرس 
Significance of the studyOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
The concept of non-prescribed medication involves the use of
medications with curative intent but without professional advice. Also
involve the intermittent or continuous use of a medication prescribed by
physician for chronic or recurring diseases or symptoms. (Atray and
Kumar, 2013).
Children are tomorrow’s investment and the management of future
societies depends on today’s physical and mental health of the children.
In this regard, an important factor in maintaining the health of children is
to increase the awareness of mothers and families of the importance of
children care, especially when the children are getting sick. Studies show
that non-prescribed medication consumption by mothers for children is
increasing (Salarkia, Amini, Abdollahi and Eshrati, 2010).
However, there are risks associated with non-prescribed
medications use, such as incorrect self-diagnosis, delaying diagnosis and
treatment of serious illnesses, delay in seeking advice from a healthcare
profession, increased risk of medication-medication interaction (World
Health Organization, 2011).
Several factors induce the practice of non-prescribed medication,
such as indiscriminate sale of medications, especially because of the
difficulty to access health systems and the costs of health plans and
medical consultations. On the other hand, little is known about the
characteristics of the population associated to this practice. A better
understanding of the characteristics presented by individuals who use
non-prescribed medication will facilitate the observation of groups at
higher risk and, therefore, more attention should be dedicated to them
(Elseviers, Wettermark, Almarsdóttir, Andersen, Benko, etal., 2016).Aim of the study was to:
Enhance mothers’ awareness, attitude and practice about non-
prescribed medications. a quasi- experimental (Pre & post) research
design was used to achieve the aim of the study.
Study setting:
A multistage random selection of one district out of 9 districts in
Menoufia Governorate was done. The selected district was Shibin El
Kom. Shibin El Kom district has 20 maternal and child health centers.
Out of 20 MCH centers the researcher randomly selected 2 MCH centers
named Quabli and Bahary in which sample was taken.
Study Sample:
A convenience sample of 80 mothers who have children from 1 to
5 years and attend maternal and child health center (Quabli and Bahary)
in shibin Elkom district, Menoufia Governorate, Egypt. The number of
mothers chosen from each maternal and child health center was 35
mothers from maternal and child health center (Quabli) and 45 mothers
from maternal and child health center (Bahary) according to the following
criteria: -
Inclusion criteria:
Mothers have children from 1 year to 5 years.
Mothers use non-prescribed medications.
Exclusion criteria:
Children with life threatening medical condition as thalassemia,
chronic diseases, hemophilia, and etc...these condition require
medical attention and mothers aware of severity of these condition.
Instrument of data collection:The data of the study were collected using a structured interview
questionnaire. This questionnaire was in a form of multiple choice and
know and don’t know questions. This questionnaire consists of five parts,
first part was concerned with the socio-demographic characteristic of
mothers, second part was concerned with the reasons for using non-
prescribed medications for the children, third part concerned with
mothers’ awareness (knowledge) about non-prescribed medications for
the children, fourth part This part concerned with mothers’ reported
practice about non-prescribed medication for the children. This part
classified into two sub parts concerned with: -mothers’ reported negative
practice regarding non-prescribed medications and mothers’ reported
positive practice about non-prescribed medications for the children and
fifth part concerned with mothers’ reported attitude about non-prescribed
medications for children. This part classified into two sub parts concerned
with: -mothers’ reported negative attitude toward non-prescribed
medications and mothers’ reported positive attitude about non-prescribed
medications for children.
The main finding of the present study revealed the following:
Regarding reasons for using non-prescribed medications for
children, more than half of studied mothers reported that reason for
using non-prescribed medications was that the mothers use the
same medication before.
Regarding the most common used types of non-prescribed
medications for children, more than one third of studied mothers
used combined types of non-prescribed medication as (antipyretic
and cough and common cold medications, pain killers and
antibiotic medication).Regarding symptoms to use non-prescribed medication for
children, less than half of studied mothers used it for other
combined symptoms as (fever, cough and common cold and body
pain).
Regarding sources of information about non-prescribed
medications, more than half of the studied sample depend on
pharmacists as a source of information about non-prescribed
medication.
There was high statistical significant improvement regarding effect
of counseling on mothers’ mean total awareness about non-
prescribed medication, pre intervention mothers’ mean of total
awareness score was 3.4 while post intervention mothers’ mean of
total awareness score was 7.7.
There was high statistical significant improvement regarding effect
of counseling on mothers’ mean total practice about non-prescribed
medication, pre intervention mothers’ mean of total practice score
was 24.4 while post intervention mothers’ mean of total practice
score was 30.
There was high statistical significant improvement regarding effect
of counseling on mothers’ mean total attitude about non-prescribed
medication, pre intervention mothers’ mean of total attitude score
was 22 while post intervention mothers’ mean of total attitude score
was 27.7.
Based on the finding of the current study, it was concluded that: -
Non-prescribed medication is common public health problem
affecting many families leading to risky health problems affecting
child’s health.Implementation of counseling nursing intervention technique had
to improve mothers’ awareness, attitude and practice about non-
prescribed medications among children under five years after two
months.
There was high statistical significant improvement in the mean
scores of mothers’ total awareness, attitude and practice about non-
prescribed medications for children after intervention compared
with pre intervention scores.
Recommendation:
Based on the previous finding of the current study, it was
recommended that: -
1- Multi-educational program for the mother regarding non-
prescribed medication by describing negative effect of non-
prescribed medications on the children health through primary
healthcare facilities as maternal and child health centers.
2- Community- based health education programs must be organized
to health care professionals, especially nurses and pharmacists
about non-prescribed medications hazard as (medication
interaction, overdose, etc..).
3- Television advertisement on medications should be prohibited
including practice of non-prescribed medications by responsible
affairs.
4- Ongoing surveillance and frequent check on non-prescribed
medications consumption by consumers, especially for the
children.
5- Further studies regarding non-prescribed medication in children are
still needed with large sample.Enforcing the role of the mass media in improving attitude toward
prescribed medications.