Effect of Nutritional Intervention Program for Mothers on Health Parameters of Infant with Phenylketonuria

Ahmed El-Safty, Mona Shafick; Bahgat, Rahma Soliman; El-sayed, Ebtisam Mohamed

doi:10.21608/tsnj.2023.315190

Effect of Nutritional Intervention Program for Mothers on Health Parameters of Infant with Phenylketonuria

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Nursing Supervisor, Directorate of Health Affair, Al-Behira Governorate, Ministry of Health, Egypt

² Prof. of Pediatric Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Tanta University, Egypt.

³ Prof. of Pediatric Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Tanta University, Egypt

10.21608/tsnj.2023.315190

Abstract

Background: Phenylketonuria is a rare inborn inherited disorder of metabolism disease
due to an autosomal recessive trait. The prevalence in Egypt is one case per 7,500. When
PKU untreated or delayed treatment, can lead to severe mental retardation, seizures and
tremors, impaired growth and development. The present study was aimed to evaluate the
effect of implementing nutritional intervention program for mothers on health parameters of
their infants with phenylketonuria. Research design: A quasi-experimental research design
was used. Setting: The study was conducted at pediatric outpatient clinic inherited and
metabolic diseases of Tanta University Hospital. Subjects: A convenience sampling of 50
mothers having infants with PKU who attended the previously mentioned setting. Two tools
were used to collect the required data: Constructed interview questionnaire sheet: to
assess mothers’ knowledge towards their infants suffering from Phenylketonuria. It
consisted of three parts: Socio-demographic characteristics of mothers, infants, and
mothers’ knowledge regarding phenylketonuria, mothers’ practices sheet: to assess
mothers' practices regarding to infants’ feeding. Observational chick list to assess
outcomes of infants. Result: revealed that there were highly statistically significant
differences between the pre-test and post-test of nutritional intervention program
implementation for infants with Phenylketonuria. Conclusion: the present study was
revealed that a significant improvement of mothers’ knowledge and practice regarding
phenylketonuria immediate and after one-month of program implementation, nutritional
intervention program was effective on their infants’ development and health parameters as
increase weight . Recommendations: In-service training program should be conducted
periodically and regularly in health care services for mothers with infants had
phenylketonuria.