Prevalence and Mothers Knowledge on Risk Factors Associated With Nasogastric Tube Aspiration Pneumonia Among the Critically ILL Children at Mulago National Referral Hospital.

Abstract

Background: This study investigated the prevalence and mother‟s knowledge on risk factors associated with naso-gastric tube aspiration pneumonia among the critically ill children at Mulago national referral hospital. The study was adopted because critically ill children have an increased risk of aspiration during nasogastric tube feeding and a number of factors may increase the risk of aspiration in these children. The study was guided by

Objectives: to establish the prevalence of aspiration pneumonia, to assess the caretakers‟ knowledge on the risk factors for aspiration pneumonia and to establish institutional factors that predispose to aspiration pneumonia in critically ill children nursed with naso-gastric tubes.

Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study design was adopted and data was collected in July 2016 using questionnaires and key informant interview guides from 20 key informants and 100 purposively and conveniently selected respondents.

Results: The study revealed that from July 2013 to June 2016, 16852 children were admitted in paediatric wards and there has been a gradual increase in prevalence of aspiration pneumonia, with the highest prevalence of 8.3 %( n=440) in the FY 2015/2016. About the knowledge of mothers/Caretakers about aspiration pneumonia :Majority of respondents 74% had been taught how to feed using nasogastric tube however 36% didn‟t have enough knowledge on identification of signs and symptoms of aspiration, which could be encountered during feeding. Some mothers 25% had scanty knowledge on the risk factors of aspiration pneumonia. Gaps in the Level of knowledge about the risk factors for aspiration pneumonia were basically institutional related such as lack of CPDs 75%, and over whelming workload of nurses due to high nurse patient ratio above five patients per nurse.

Recommendations: The study concluded that health education of mothers/caretakers about how to feed and care for NG-tube and on identification of early signs and symptoms of aspiration pneumonia and Weekly CPDs should include aspiration pneumonia.