Table 4 Beliefs and practices influencing antipyretic use for managing childhood fever as reported by parents (N = 402)
Variable | Frequency (%) |
|---|---|
Decisions to use medications were primarily influenced by | |
To reduce temperature only when elevated | 126 (31.3) |
Presence of pain or discomfort | 51 (12.7) |
Presence of illness symptoms (e.g. vomiting, cough, cold) | 42 (10.4) |
Sleeping problems | 19 (4.7) |
Not eating or drinking | 24 (6.0) |
Presence of a history of febrile convulsions | 48 (11.9) |
Non-pharmacological or homeopathic methods were ineffective | 54 (13.4) |
Sleeping problems + not eating or drinking + non-pharmacological methods were ineffective | 26 (6.5) |
All factors | 12 (3.0) |
Daily maximum frequency of antipyretic usage | |
1 | 30 (7.5) |
2 | 126 (31.3) |
3 | 118 (29.4) |
4 | 109 (27.1) |
5 | 5 (1.2) |
6 | 14 (3.5) |
Factors influencing frequency of administration | |
Instructions on drug leaflet | 55 (13.7) |
Physician’s instructions | 248 (61.7) |
Pharmacist’s instructions | 15 (3.7) |
Severity of the accompanying disease | 12 (3.0) |
Degree of elevated temperature | 60 (14.9) |
Child’s weight | 4 (1.0) |
Child’s age | 8 (2.0) |
Factors influencing antipyretic dose | |
Drug instructions on leaflet | 60 (14.9) |
Physician’s instructions | 221 (55.0) |
Pharmacist’s instructions | 31 (7.7) |
Severity of accompanying disease symptoms | 8 (2.0) |
Child’s age | 31 (7.7) |
Child’s weight | 8 (2.0) |
Degree of temperature elevation | 12 (3.0) |
Child’s inactivity | 1 (0.2) |
Drug instructions on leaflet + Child’s weight | 30 (7.5) |
Preferred antipyretics pharmaceutical dosage form | |
Syrups | 206 (51.2) |
Suppositories | 63 (15.7) |
Injections | 6 (1.5) |
Syrups and suppositories combined | 127 (31.6) |
Difficulties experienced during administration of medications | |
Children refusing to swallow the medication | 197 (49.0) |
Children spitting it out | 128 (31.8) |
Children being too distressed by the illness/fever | 46 (11.4) |
Children being too sleepy | 18 (4.5) |
Children refusing to swallow the medication + children spitting it out | 13 (3.2) |
Procedure to ensure that febrile children received their medications | |
Used force | 19 (4.7) |
Coaxed and encouraged their child | 269 (66.9) |
Mixed the medication with foods or drinks | 44 (10.9) |
Sought medical advice | 10 (2.5) |
Gave suppositories instead of syrup | 50 (12.4) |
Used non-pharmacological methods | 10 (2.5) |
Beliefs about the harmful outcomes associated with antipyretic use | |
Liver damage | 60 (14.9) |
Overdose | 46 (11.4) |
Kidney damage | 65 (16.2) |
Effect on stomach | 68 (16.9) |
Immunity suppression | 7 (1.7) |
Allergic reactions | 84 (20.9) |
Other | 72 (17.9) |