Kelechi Odinaka, Benedict Edelu, Nwolisa Emeka, Ifeyinwa Amamilo, Seline Okolo
Department of Paediatrics, Federal medical Centre, Owerri, Imo State Nigeria.
Department of Paediatrics, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu State, Nigeria.
Pan Afr Med J. 2014 Nov 11;19:263. doi: 10.11604/pamj.2014.19.263.2899. eCollection 2014.
Temporal artery thermometry may be viewed as a suitable alternative to the traditional thermometry because of its safety and time efficiency. However, it is yet to gain wide acceptance in African settings because it is relatively new. The aim of this study was to compare the choices of Nigerian mothers between the traditional methods (axillary and rectal thermometry) and the temporal artery thermometry.
Rectal, axillary and forehead temperatures were measured in 113 children using rectal and axillary mercury in glass thermometers and infrared temporal artery thermometer respectively. The thermometry method preferred by each mother and the reason(s) were documented using a semi structured questionnaire. The data was analysed using SPSS version 19.
The highest number of mothers 44(38.9%) preferred the axillary route while 42(37.2%) and 27(23.9%) preferred the temporal and rectal routes respectively. Temporal artery thermometry was the most popular among the mothers with tertiary education 27(39.7%), whereas axillary thermometry was most preferred among mothers with primary and secondary education, although this difference was not statistically significant (χ(2)=0.62,p = 0.96). Mothers 27(33.9%) who preferred rectal thermometry did so because they felt that since the thermometer is inserted inside the body, it will detect fever better.
Nigerian mothers do not have any particular thermometry preference between the temporal artery thermometry and the traditional methods, so medical personnel in our environment may resort to any method that is convenient, accurate, fast and cost effective.
由于颞动脉测温法具有安全性和省时性，它可被视为传统测温法的一种合适替代方法。然而，由于其相对较新，在非洲地区尚未得到广泛认可。本研究的目的是比较尼日利亚母亲在传统方法（腋下和直肠测温）和颞动脉测温之间的选择。
分别使用直肠和腋下玻璃水银体温计以及红外颞动脉体温计，对113名儿童进行直肠、腋下和额头温度测量。使用半结构化问卷记录每位母亲偏好的测温方法及其原因。数据使用SPSS 19版进行分析。
最多的母亲44人（38.9%）偏好腋下测温法，而分别有42人（37.2%）和27人（23.9%）偏好颞动脉和直肠测温法。在受过高等教育的母亲中，颞动脉测温法最受欢迎，占27人（39.7%）；而在小学和中学教育程度的母亲中，腋下测温法最受青睐，不过这种差异无统计学意义（χ(2)=0.62，p = 0.96）。27名（33.9%）偏好直肠测温法的母亲这样做是因为她们觉得由于体温计插入体内，能更好地检测出发烧。
尼日利亚母亲在颞动脉测温法和传统方法之间没有特别的测温偏好，因此在我们所处环境中的医务人员可以采用任何方便、准确、快速且经济高效的方法。
