Effect of maternal education on the rate of childhood handicap

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to determine the relation bet ween maternal education and various maternal risk factors, identify the imp act of maternal education on the risk of childhood handicap and estimate th e proportion of childhood handicap that can be prevented by maternal educat ion. Methods: Data was collected from all married women attending the two major maternity and child hospitals in Jeddah during April 1999. Women with at le ast one living child were interviewed for sociodemographic factors and havi ng at least one handicapped child. The risk of having a handicapped child a nd the population attributable risk percent were calculated. Results: Some potential risk factors are dominant in our society as approxi mately 30% of women did not attend school and 84% did not work. Consanguine ous marriages accounted for about 43%. Pre-marriage counseling was limited as only 10% of women counseled before marriage. The proportion of unemploym ent and consanguineous marriages decreased significantly by increase in mat ernal education level. Conversely, the proportion of women reporting pre-ma rriage counseling increased significantly by increase in maternal education level. Approximately, 7% of women reported having at least one handicapped child. The risk of having a handicapped child showed a significant sharp d ecline with increase in maternal education level. At least 25% of childhood handicap can be prevented by achieving female primary education and up to half of cases can be prevented if mothers finish their intermediate educati on. Conclusion: Female education plays a major role in child health. The result s of this study suggest investment in female education, which would have su bstantial positive effects in reducing incidence of childhood handicap in J eddah.