Abstract

Backgrounds: Febrile convulsion is one of the common childhood clinical conditions. Children under the age of five years are more susceptible to such types of convulsions. This disorder produces anxiety among family members mostly in mothers. There is an extreme need for parents to be prepared with precise knowledge about the causes and suitable home resuscitation of febrile convulsion to reduce the under-five mortality rate.
Objectives: The objective was to evaluate the practices of mothers attending primary health care centers in Basrah regarding febrile convulsion.
Methods: The study was cross-sectional, accomplished among 210 mothers attending five PHCCs in Basrah. Data were gathered by face-to-face meeting of the mothers by the investigator, using a specially prepared questionnaire form.
Results: Nearly one-quarter of the mothers (24.8%) were illiterate, while (21%) of them had primary school education. When assessing the mothers’ practices regarding febrile convulsion, the highest correct responses were in “Observe seizure manifestations and duration” at (93.3%) followed by “Reduction of temperature” at (90.5%) then “Place the child on the soft surface” at (84.3 %). Only (5.2%) of mothers with good practices about FC, while those with poor and fair practices were (20.5%) and (74.3%), respectively.
Conclusions: According to the findings of the present study, mothers’ practice of febrile convulsion was good in only (5.2%) of mothers, there is a need for women to be informed about risk factors and suitable home practices of febrile convulsion management in children below the age of five years in Basrah, so the health care providers can give suitable health education and support plans.