Mother's Awareness Regarding Health Consequences of Heat Stress Related to Climate Change among their Preschool Children.

Abstract

Background: Climate change poses significant risks to preschool children, particularly in relation to heat stress due to the underdeveloped thermoregulatory systems and limited ability to communicate discomfort. Aim: The aim of this study was to assess mother's awareness regarding health consequences of heat stress related to climate change among their preschool children. Study design: Descriptive research design was utilized to conduct this study. Setting: The present study was conducted at 50% of twenty Kindergartens in Benha City equal ten of kindergartens. Sampling: Simple random sample was chosen from total number of preschool children and their mothers in Kindergartens in Benha City. It includes 291 from the total number of all preschool children in selected setting = 1065. Tools of data collection: Two tools were used - Tool I: A structured interviewing questionnaire: Which include 4 parts: A- Demographic characteristics of mothers and preschool child, B- Health problems of preschool children related to heat stress at the last year, CPreschool children mothers' knowledge regarding health consequences of heat stress related to climate change and D- Reported practices of mothers regarding measures to prevent consequences of heat stress related to climate change on the preschool children. Tool II: Was concerned with scale to measure attitude of mothers regarding health consequences of heat stress related to climate change of their preschool children. Results: 56.4% of the studied mothers aged from 25 to <35 years mean (22.5), 52.6% of studied children aged from 3 to <4 years old mean ( 3.5), 71.8% of studied children had facial redness when exposed to heatstroke or heat exhaustion, 60.1% of the studied mothers had poor total knowledge level about climate change and heat stress. 53.6% of the studied mothers had unsatisfactory total reported practices level and 63.2% of the studied mothers had positive total attitude level. Conclusion: There are three quarters of studied children had facial redness when exposed to heatstroke or heat exhaustion and one third of them had skin rash when exposed to heat rash. Finally, there was statistical positive correlation between total knowledge scores and total reported practices scores and total attitude scores. Recommendations: Develop health educational program for mothers to increase their knowledge and practices regarding health consequences related to heat stress.