IMPACT OF COUNSELING ON MOTHER KNOWLEDGE AND CHALLENGES ABOUT THE GLUTEN FREE DIET OF CELIAC DISEASE CHILD

Abstract

Background:

Celiac disease is a severe chronic autoimmune disorder induced by the ingestion of gluten, affects multiple systems. Strict, lifelong adherence to a gluten-free diet, which comprises avoiding wheat, rye, barley, and other gluten-containing foods, is the only treatment for celiac disease.

Aim:

The study aimed to assess the awareness, knowledge, and challenges faced by mothers of children with celiac disease regarding the implementation of a gluten-free diet, and to determine the correlation between maternal knowledge and the challenges encountered in managing the diet.

Methodology:

 A correlational observational study design was conducted at one of the largest public hospitals in Lahore, Pakistan. A non-probability convenient sample of n=70 mothers of Celiac disease children were recruited from the selected hospital. Data was collected through structured self-administered validated quantitative questionnaires comprised of Demographic data, awareness and knowledge regarding gluten free diet and challenges faced by mothers in adhering to gluten free diet.  Descriptive and inferential statistics, such as Pearson correlation, were used to categorize and evaluate the knowledge and challenge scores in order to investigate the relationship between challenges and knowledge levels. Prior to data collection, informed consent and ethical approval was obtained. Data was entered and interpreted through SPSS Version 23.

Results:

Findings revealed that only 24.3% of mothers had good knowledge, 67.1% faced moderate challenges and 28.6% faced high challenges while practicing gluten free diet. Moreover the findings show that knowledge and challenges have a strong and statistically significant negative correlation (r = -0.916 (p < 0.01).

Conclusion:

Overall, the study's findings show that knowledge gaps continue to play a major role in the challenges they face. Improving mothers' knowledge is essential to lowering challenges in diet implementation