Mother's Educational Needs about Etiology of Children's Leukemia

Leukemia is the most popular malignant neoplasm in childhood, that they are about 41% of children's cancer in younger than 15 years old (ALL is about 70% among them) (12). Signs,clinical tests and response to treatment are different in kinds with leukemia. Direct etiology of leukemia is unknown in many case of ALL, but genetic and environmental factors are discussed in children's leukemia (7). Because of complex pathophysiology in leukemia and long treatments and follow up in it, knowledge of etiology and prevention of leukemia is very important.

Assessment of mother's educational needs about etiology of children's leukemia.

In cross-sectional study 300 mothers with child younger than 5 years old selected with simple accidental method of health centers in Borujerd. Data analyzed with t and chi square tests (with p<0.05).

Results showed that most of mothers had moderate or weak knowledge, only 31.33% of mothers had appropriate knowledge in etiology of leukemia. Between educational level and mother's knowledge rate about etiology of leukemia was direct and meaningful communication (p<0.0001).Mothers with 1 or 2 child had more knowledge than mothers with 3 or more child (p<0.04).Mothers younger than 35 years old had more knowledge than mothers in 35 or more (p<0.0001).

Educational programs about etiology of leukemia are essential for mothers (and they need to be familiar with leukemia and its side effects and treatments, etc) in order to increase their appropriate knowledge in this case.