Nabil A Badawy
College of Nursing,Public Authority for Applied Education and Training, Kuwait
Title: Kuwaiti parents’ knowledge of their children’s fever and their patterns of use of Over the Counter Antipyretics
Biography
Biography: Nabil A Badawy
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Many parents consider fever a disease with the continuation of fever phobia and overuse of antipyretics to reduce it.
OBJECTIVES: Identifying Kuwaiti parents’ knowledge, beliefs, practices about fever management.
METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study, in which 614 Kuwaiti mothers of well children aged between 6 months and five years were recruited. Data was collected over six month’s period from 1/9/2015 to 1/3/2016, using a self-administered questionnaire.
RESULTS: Over the study period, a total of 614 mothers participated in the study, with a response rate of 94.5%. Mild fever was reported to be ≤ 37.5 °C by 33.2 %(196) of mothers, and 27.1 %(166) considered a temperature ≤ 38.5 °C to be a high fever. Educational attainment significantly influenced parents’ reports for high fever (F = 4.68, d.f. = 4, P = 0.001, n = 207). Almost all the mothers believed that fever could cause harm, and 48%(294) of them stated that fever is very harmful. Fifty-three percent of mothers (n=309) would give antipyretic medication when body temperature is ≤38 °C. The most commonly administered antipyretic was paracetamol. Sixty-one percent (375) of the mothers had alternated antipyretic paracetamol and ibuprofen. Forty-five percent (274) of mothers thinks that antipyretics are without potential harm. Level of education had a positive impact on the perception of fever [ χ2 (df = 8) = 70.68, p < .001]. Usual practices targeted temperature reduction, antipyretic administration (53.7%), temperature monitoring (49.7%), offering more fluids (43.6%) and light clothing (38. 3%). Forty-nine and 45% of the mothers practiced alcoholic and cold compresses respectively.
CONCLUSION: The knowledge of the parents about fever is poor. Fever phobia” remains extremely widespread, with an overuse of antipyretics. Healthcare professionals have a duty of care to provide parents with accurate and consistent information about childhood fever based on the latest scientific evidence.