CAREGIVERS' KNOWLEDGE AND HOME MANAGEMENT OF FEVER IN CHILDREN

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Public Health
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Fever is a common pediatric complaint, often indicating infection, with most cases managed at home.
• Caregiver knowledge is crucial for effective home management of febrile illnesses in children.
• Inadequate caregiver understanding can lead to complications and increased hospital visits.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess caregiver knowledge and practices related to childhood fever.
• To identify areas for improvement in home-based fever management strategies.
• To inform public health initiatives for better pediatric fever care.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Paediatric Emergency Unit of Kenyatta National Hospital.
• Data was collected from 250 caregivers of children under 12 presenting with fever.
• The study period was from August to October 2011.

Main Results:

• Approximately 75% of caregivers correctly defined fever, but only 47.6% knew normal body temperature.
• Infection was recognized as the primary cause of fever by 95.2% of participants.
• Caregivers frequently cited brain damage and dehydration as major complications and predominantly used medication for home treatment.

Conclusions:

• A majority of caregivers demonstrated correct fever definition but relied on touch rather than thermometers.
• Home management of fever primarily involved medication, indicating a need for improved monitoring practices.
• Public health education is recommended to enhance caregiver understanding and promote thermometer use for accurate fever assessment.