title: Jordanian mothers' knowledge of infants' childrearing and developmental milestones.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study explored Jordanian mothers' knowledge of infants' childrearing practices and developmental milestones, the socio-demographic variables of relevance to knowledge, and sources of information that guide childrearing practices.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Parents' knowledge is considered the frame of reference for parents' interpretations of their children's behaviors and provides the basis for having the appropriate expectation of the child's developmental stage. Parents' knowledge of childrearing is essential for children's physical, cognitive and emotional development.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional design using a modified version of MacPhee's 'Knowledge of Infant Development Inventory' was used to assess 400 mothers' knowledge of infants' childrearing and developmental milestones, in Amman, Jordan.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mothers were found to be more knowledgeable in physical and safety skills and less in cognitive, emotional, and parent-infant interaction skills. Parental age, education, parity and planned pregnancy had limited influence on developmental milestones knowledge. Formal and informal sources of information were used conforming to traditional societies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results were congruent with findings from other studies in the region and similar traditional societies. Results allude to conclusion that mothers resort to informal sources and traditional practices to replace formally structured programmes when absent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Healthcare professionals, nursing schools and healthcare policy makers are encouraged to develop and institute a holistic approach encompassing physical, cognitive, emotional and parent-infant interaction domains in childrearing educational programmes. Structured parenting programmes for mothers and culturally accepted sources of information for fathers are essential to enhance parenting skills among Jordanian couples.
authors.affiliation: Maternity and Child Health Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Safadi
authors.affiliation: Clinical Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.affiliation: Maternity and Child Health Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.
authors.forename: O S
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Nassar
authors.affiliation: Community and Mental Health Department, Faculty of Nursing, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Alashhab
authors.affiliation: Maternity and Child Health Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: AbdelKader
authors.affiliation: Community and Mental Health Department, Faculty of Nursing, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Amre
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D002668:Child Rearing / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007597:Jordan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Childrearing; Childrearing Practices; Developmental Milestones; Infant Development; Jordan; Mothers' Knowledge