Maternal attitudes and practices toward childhood fever: insights from a large-scale survey of over 3,000 mothers.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Fever is a common childhood symptom and a frequent source of parental concern. Despite medical advances, misconceptions and inappropriate management strategies remain widespread. This study aimed to describe maternal knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding childhood fever in Türkiye and to identify areas that may benefit from targeted education.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional, online survey using snowball sampling. A total of 3,133 mothers provided complete responses. The questionnaire assessed thermometer use, fever definitions, attitudes, and management practices. Descriptive statistics were reported, with exploratory comparisons conducted where relevant.

Results

The mean age of the participants was 33.4 ± 6.0 years, and the average age at w

SUBMITTER: Cengiz M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12642302 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature