Background: Respiratory syncytial virus is the chief cause of lower respiratory tract
infections in children which causes mild to severe symptoms. Aim: To assess mothers'
knowledge and practices regarding care of their children with Respiratory Syncytial Virus.
Subjects and Method: Research design: A descriptive research design was utilized. Setting:
The research was conducted at pediatric out-patient clinic for respiratory diseases at Minia
university hospital for obstetrics and pediatrics Subjects: A purposive sample of 322 mothers
and their children under five years with acute respiratory tract infections. Tools: Tool (I):
Respiratory syncytial virus knowledge questionnaire covering the demographic characteristics
of the studied mothers and their knowledge regarding Respiratory Syncytial Virus. Tool (II):
Mothers reported practices regarding care of children with RSV Results: The majority of
mothers had unsatisfactory level of knowledge and unsatisfactory level of reported practices
regarding Respiratory Syncytial Virus. Additionally, there was a statistically significant
relation between mother's personal as well as social data and their total knowledge and
reported practices concerning Respiratory Syncytial Virus. Also, there was a statistically
significant strong positive correlation between mother's total knowledge and total reported
practices. Conclusion: The mothers had unsatisfactory level of knowledge and reported
practices regarding care of their children with Respiratory Syncytial Virus.
Recommendations: Educational program for mothers could be conducted to raise their
knowledge and to improve their practices regarding care of children with Respiratory
Syncytial Virus