+44 330 818 7254Mwini Nyaledzigbor, Peter Adatara , Anthony Kuug and Dziedzorm Abotsi
Background: This study investigated mothers’ knowledge, beliefs and practices regarding febrile convulsion and how it is being managed in homes among women with children under five years (0-5) .Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 50 women with children with the diagnosis of febrile seizures. Data was collected by the researcher using structured questionnaires. Results: It was found that majority, 35(70%)of the mothers were able to described febrile convulsions as a sickness in children which is exhibited by the child twitching or fitting, with eyes wide opened. Only 25(50%) of the mothers indicated that febrile convulsion is caused by high fever (high body temperature) but could not specify the number of degrees Celsius due to high illiteracy rates amongst women in Ghana. The results also showed that, a substantial number 27 (48%) of the mothers had the belief that febrile convulsion is normally caused by witchcraft and evil spirits while 8 (16%) of the respondents hold beliefs that a sore in the child’s abdomen can cause convulsions. Regarding the home management of febrile convulsions most of the women indicated that tepid sponging the child, bathing the child with cold water; putting spoon in child’s mouth and using traditional herbal preparation to rub all over the child’s body or it into the child’s nostrils. Conclusion: The study concluded that even though majority of mothers have good knowledge about febrile convulsion and its first aid interventions at home, a good number of mothers still have negative beliefs regarding the cause of the condition.
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