Fever in Children Under 5 years: Caregivers' Knowledge and Home Management Practices in the Northern Region of Ghana - A Multi-Facility Study.

BACKGROUND

Fever is a common condition in children under 5. Misconceptions surrounding its management can result in poor health outcomes.

OBJECTIVES

To assess caregivers' knowledge and home management practices regarding fever in children under 5 in the Northern Region of Ghana.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study design was employed in this study. Data was collected via structured questionnaires and analyzed with JMP Pro 17.1.

RESULTS

Among 384 caregivers, 57% had good fever knowledge, and 57.3% practiced proper home management. While 66.7% correctly defined fever (>38°C), 76.8% mistakenly believed teething could cause fever. Most caregivers reported that they would visit a hospital if the child exhibited additional symptoms (93.0%), or if the fever had no apparent cause (78.9%). Predictors of knowledge included occupation, education, income, and health insurance. Fever management practices were influenced by maternal age, religion, health insurance, and child's age.

CONCLUSION

Most caregivers demonstrated good fever knowledge and management, but misconceptions persist, particularly on teething and medication use. Targeted education is needed to correct these gaps and improve first-aid practices.