Maternal knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding childhood fever: a cross-sectional study.

Abstract

Background: Fever remains one of the most common reasons for pediatric visits and is a key issue in family health literacy. Misconceptions and fears often lead to inappropriate interventions or delayed medical care. Understanding mothers' perceptions of childhood fever is essential for effective health education. This study explored maternal attitudes and practices regarding fever to inform future health education strategies and guideline development.

Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted via face-to-face interviews with mothers of children attending a tertiary pediatric outpatient clinic for non-febrile complaints. Primary outcomes included knowledge of fever definition, medication use, and home remedies. Secondary outcomes assessed the impact of sociodemographic factors and reasons for seeking care. Incorrect antipyretic administration (inappropriate dose or dosing interval) was analyzed using multivariable logistic regression.

Results: Of 1000 participating mothers (aged 18-51, mostly high school graduates), 73.8% administered the correct antipyretic dose, while 15.7% used insufficient and 4.3% excessive doses. The main concern (93%) was preventing febrile convulsions. Traditional advice (45.4%) and online sources (32.4%) were frequently consulted. In infants under one year, mothers more often contacted a physician instead of using antipyretics at 38 °C. Tepid sponging with vinegar was less used in children under 1 and those aged 2-3 years at 40 °C. Multivariable analysis showed that lower maternal education, absence of a home thermometer, prematurity history, and absence of a family history of febrile seizures were independently associated with incorrect antipyretic administration; the strongest association was observed for absence of a home thermometer (adjusted odds ratio: 2.74, 95% confidence interval: 1.89-3.98). Mothers of adolescents (12-18 years) were less likely to use home-based interventions and showed a greater tendency toward seeking medical care at 38 °C. Families with one child were less likely to undress the child during a fever compared to those with multiple children.

Conclusions: Targeted education addressing misconceptions and inappropriate fever management practices could enhance outcomes and reduce unnecessary healthcare utilization.