Parents’ knowledge, beliefs and home based techniques regarding a feverish child under five years at Kabgayi Health Center.

Abstract

Introduction: Fever is the primary symptom of many illnesses such as acute respiratory infection, malaria and measles among others, which cause numerous deaths in children under five years mainly in developing countries. The aim of the study was determine parents‟ knowledge, beliefs and home based techniques regarding a feverish child under five years at Kabgayi health center. Methodology: The study used non experimental descriptive design with a quantitative approach. The convenience sampling was used to select the sample from population. Data were collected from 288 parents who brought their children with fever in consultation at Kabgayi Health Center .The period of data collection was from 1 st March 2019 to 30th April 2019.Data were collected using an adapted tool, its validity and reliability were tested. Data were analyzed by SPSS VERSION 20. Chi square was used to determine the association between variables. Data from descriptive and inferential statistics were presented in table and using chart. Results: The findings revealed that 173(60.1%) of participants, knew the definition of fever. More than a half of them 169(58.68%) have good knowledge and the majority of participants 249(86.46%) have positive beliefs regarding a feverish child under five years. Concerning non drugs home based techniques, almost all parents 269 (93.4%) identified Appling a tepid sponging; 178(61.8%) giving plenty fluid; 167(58%) giving breast feeding more than usually and 100 (34.7%) undress the child. Most of participants 268 (93.1%) reported paracetamol to be used as a fever medicine and brufen was identified by a few number 27(9.4%). We found a significant statistical association between level of educational and parents‟ knowledge (p value ≤0.001). Also a significant statistical association has been identified between level of educational and home based techniques (p value ≤0.001). There was a significant statistical association between parents‟ knowledge and home based techniques (p value ≤0.001). Conclusion: This study showed that the level of education is associated with parents‟ knowledge; the researcher concluded that parents should raise their level of education in order to have good knowledge regarding a feverish child in order to use appropriate home based techniques to treat a feverish child as the parents‟ knowledge is associated with those techniques.