Honey pacifier use among an indigent pediatric population.

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Infant Health
• Public Health

Background:

• Honey pacifier use was observed in infants at a Houston county hospital pediatric clinic.
• No published studies were found on honey pacifier prevalence or infant botulism links.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the prevalence of honey pacifier use in infants.
• To understand parental awareness of risks associated with honey consumption in infants under 12 months.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted.
• A 19-item survey was administered to parents of children up to 12 months old.
• Data collected from well-child visits at a county hospital pediatric clinic (February 2010 - April 2011).

Main Results:

• 11% of 397 respondents reported using honey pacifiers for reasons including tradition, infant preference, and perceived health benefits.
• Only about 20% of honey pacifier users and 23% of all respondents knew honey could cause illness in infants under 12 months.
• Nearly 40% of respondents reported using herbal or folk remedies.

Conclusions:

• Honey pacifier use is common, affecting approximately 1 in 10 infants in this population.
• A significant majority (around 80%) of mothers were unaware of the dangers of giving honey to infants under 12 months.
• The use of herbal medicine was also prevalent among surveyed parents.