Milestones: Are mothers aware?

Abstract

Aim: To assess maternal awareness of developmental milestones, and some of the factors that affects her level of knowledge. In addition, to address some of the sources they seek for information. Methods: A cross-sectional study of the knowledge of developmental milestones exhibited by 358 mothers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Results: A large majority of the women (84.6%) scored poorly in terms of knowledge, and there was a clear connection between educational levels and knowledge levels. Other variables - such as age, occupation, marital status, income, number of children- had no influence on the scores. Conclusion: Mothers in Saudi Arabia have poor knowledge of developmental milestones and this stems from the relationship between mothers and healthcare professionals. One way of tackling this issue is to ensure that all new parents are provided with evidence-based educational resources - for example, leaflets - as well as information on children's development, either by nurses or doctors.