الفهرس 
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Abstract
Young children are an important population group to community because their physical and emotional health are vital to the future of society, so health services play a vital role in promoting good quality care for infant and child, and affect the future health of infants. (Ball and Binder, 2008)
Allender, (2001) emphasized that; families have the resources and responsibility to provide and promote the health of their infants, because they are still vulnerable to many problems and illness. Health promotion for infants and young children needed to establish programs and services in the community for teaching families infant care through; good personal hygiene, dental care, provision of adequate nutrition and prevent illness through immunizations.
The aim of this study was to assess rural mothers’ knowledge and practice about infant care during the first year of life in Ismailia governorate.
The sample size was (200) mothers having infants and their ages ranged from one month to 12 months attended to El-Mahsama’s maternal and child health center in Ismailia governorate for the purpose of their infants’ immunizations during the period of the study from the beginning of March 2012 till the end of May 2012 .
A pilot study was carried out on (20) mothers in order to test the applicability of tools and to estimate the time required to fill in sheets. Modifications of tools were done according to study supervisors’ view on clarity of sentences, appropriateness of content, sequence of items. All mothers who shared in the pilot study were excluded from the studied sample.
Data collection was performed over a period of 3 months started from the beginning of March 2012 to the end of May 2012.
Data were collected through two tools, the first tool was a structured interviewing questionnaire composed of three parts to collect the following data:
(A) Demographic characteristics of the studied sample as age, wok, educational level and other socioeconomic data (20) questions
(B) Mothers’ knowledge about normal growth and development of the infant during the first year of life, such as; age of anterior and posterior fontanel closure, teething, sitting, creeping, standing and walking, (7) questions
(C) Mothers’ knowledge about the infant care during the first year of life such as; personal hygiene, diaper care, oral care and vaccinations (18) questions. Other questions covers infant feeding, weaning and periodical medical examinations during the first year of life, (14) questions for feeding, (9) questions for weaning and periodical follow up.
The second tool was an observational checklist to assess mothers’ practice regarding infant care such as infant bathing, diaper care, breast feeding and bottle feeding; this tool was done through home visits for the studied sample.
The study was limited by the refusal of 20% from the studied sample to home visit which forced the investigator to complete the checklist part in the M.C.H. center without observation.
• The results of the current study can be summarized as:
1. 72.5% of the studied sample aged from 20 to <30 years.
2. The majority of studied sample had poor knowledge about infant growth and development.
3. The majority of the studied sample had inadequate knowledge and poor information about their infants’ care regarding bathing, diaper care, oral hygiene, feeding and weaning.
4. None of the studied sample had knowledge about periodical medical checkup and follow up care for their infants (100%).
5. There was a statistical significant difference (p<0.05) between mothers’ age, education and baby’s birth order and their knowledge about care given to their infants.
6. There was a statistical significant difference in the level of practice with mothers’ age and baby’s birth order.
7. There was a highly statistical significant relation (p < 0.0001) between level of knowledge and level of practice.
• The following recommendations were suggested based on the findings of the current study :
• More attention should be given to premarital, perinatal periods, so health education programs should be presented regarding pregnancy and infant care during these phases of life for all adult females who will be in childbearing phase.
• Developing a comprehensive health educational programs for all pregnant women particularly newly mothers in the rural communities about care given to the infant during the first year of life as well as normal growth and development, personal hygiene including bathing, oral care, diaper care and also infant feeding and weaning .
• Improving mothers’ practice in the rural communities toward infant care through mass media such as T.V., posters for mothers who can’t read and write, pamphlets, booklets and other communication channels for educated mothers
• Further studies should be conducted to improve mother’s awareness and practice about infant care.