Assessment of nurses' knowledge towards signs of gross motor delay for children at Alhawija District in Kirkuk Governorate

Abstract

Background: the early identification of developmental disabilities allows intervention at the earliest possible point to
improve the developmental potential.
Objective: Identify the scope of knowledge of nurses toward signs of gross motor delay for children and its relation to
their demographic characteristics.
Methodology: A descriptive study design was conducted at (18) primary health care centers in first of the primary
health care sector of Alhawija District in Kirkuk Governorate. This study started from September 2010 to the end of
January 2011, in order to identify the level of nurses' knowledge toward signs of gross motor delay for children in
primary health care centers. Non probability (purposive) sample of 20 nurses selected from (18) primary health care
centers. Data were gathered by the investigators who interviewed nurses in their Primary Health Care Centers and
filled out the constructed questionnaire a format which was designed for the purpose of the study. Reliability and
validity of this tool is determined through application of a pilot study and panel of experts. Data were analyzed
through the application of descriptive statistical (frequencies and percentages).
Results: The findings revealed that the nurses' knowledge in general was poor concerning nurses knowledge about
signs of gross motor delay for children, and there is no a relationship between nurses' knowledge and their
demographic characteristics (age, educational level, years of employment and type of their primary health care
centers).
Recommendations: The study recommended that the collaborating work with the Ministry of Health would be helpful
in improving nurses’ knowledge toward detecting of the signs of gross motor delay for children in primary health care
centers through the application of an educational program.