Ateşli çocuklarda, annelerin bilgi düzeyleri ve ateşe yaklaşımları

Abstract

Introduction: This study was planned to determine the knowledge, thoughts, and attitudes of mothers with 0-7-years-old children and related factors about fever.Methods: The study was conducted with 112 mothers who applied to the Dumlupınar University Evliya Çelebi Hospital Family Practice Policlinics. The data were collected by a questionnaire consisting of multiple-choice questions.Results: The mean age of the mothers was 31 ± 5.3 years. According to the educational status, 68 (60.7%) were primary school graduates, 30 (26.7%) were high school graduates, and 14 (12.5%) were university graduates. The mean number of children was 3 ± 1.7. Of the parents surveyed, 65% stated that they owned a thermometer, but still 53 (47.3%) mothers were evaluating the child’s fever by touching and 13 by looking at the general appearance. ‎Thirty-three (29.4%) mothers were using thermometers to measure fever. Although 75 (67%) mothers claimed to knowhow to measure body temperature, only 18 (16%) were able to describe how to make a complete and accurate measurement. Of the mothers who said they knew how to use a thermometer, 17 (22.6%) guessed the required duration for measurement less and 29(38.6%) unnecessarily higher than needed. Eighty-eight (78.5%) of the mothers measured the body temperature from the axillary region, followed by tympanic, oral, and in small children rectal routes. Conclusion: Mothers often have false or incomplete information about the location, duration, and method of temperature measurement.