Mothers’ Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices in the Management of Fever in Their Children

Introduction: This purpose of this descriptive study was to investigate knowledge, attitude and practices of mothers related to the management of fever in their children. Materials and Methods: The study was implemented between 1 February to 30 April 2009. A sample of 150 volunteer mothers who utilized health care services in Healthy Children Outpatient Department of a University Children's Hospital, in ？zmir was selected by nonprobability sample tecnique. The data were collected by using a questionnaire form which includes questions regarding socio-demographic characteristics and knowledge, attitude and practices of mothers related to the management of fever in their children. Results: While 23.3% of the mothers decided that her child has a fever by touching and feeling, 56.0% of the mothers used a thermometer. Most of the mothers (91.2%) knew about the axillary normal body temperature . Percentage of mothers who knew how long it is needed to place the thermometer in the axillary was 42.8 % . Most of the mothers dispensed drugs to break and control the fever. 57.6 % of the mothers feared of paroxysismal fever, 26.0 % of the mothers put off the clothes of the child when they noticed that the child has fever and applied warm compres. Conclusions: Few mothers applied for traditional practices to break the fever. Suggestions: ？t is suggested that nurses should give routine health education on fever management to the mothers.