Parental Anxiety of Perceived Disorder and Application of Concoctions on Infant Pulsating Anterior Fontanelle in the Tamale Metropolis, Ghana

Abstract

The study seeks to unearth parental anxiety of perceived disorder and application of concoctions on infant pulsating anterior fontanelle in the Tamale metropolis, Ghana. Pulsation of the anterior fontanelle though a physiological reality of all infants, causes anxiety on the part of parents for fear of the infant suffering some form of harm as a result. A qualitative study which employed the narrative realities of mothers, delving into mothers’ beliefs on the physiologic functionality of the anterior fontanelle and perceived treatment mode commonly employed by mothers. The study revealed that mothers do not have any scientific reason behind the belief system for the application of concoctions on the pulsating anterior fontanelles of their infants. Consequently, the author recommends that the Ghana Health Service, the Teaching Hospitals, and the Municipal and District Health authorities should embark on serious health education on the essence of the fontanelle and demystify some cultural or traditional belief systems around pulsation of the anterior fontanelle. The application of concoctions on infant pulsating fontanelles is just not based on scientific principles known to the people, but it is perceptively done out of fear of the unknown.