[The behavior of mothers at the appearance of fever and cough in small children].

The Social Cooperative Progetto Popolare of Montescaglioso (Matera) organized some health education meetings on common health problems. Since information on treatment of cough and fever are very frequently sought, a survey was conducted interviewing the mothers with children of 6 months-10 year of age. The health visitors, social workers and teachers members of the Cooperative, interviewed, using a structured interview, 220 mothers (45% of all the eligible mothers resident in the area). 157 mothers (71.3%) had children with cough or fever the month before the interview. 25% of children were not administered any drug while the remaining 117 received 1 to 5 drugs. 45 children (28.6%) were administered an antibiotic (13 different active principles!). Non farmacologic treatments were associated to drugs for 17 children with fever and 39 children with cough. Results were presented in public and discussed with Montescaglioso inhabitants. Altough some of the results were expected, it should be stressed that this project demonstrated that it is possible to actively involve professionals and lay people in collaborative projects and start a two way communication and collaboration.