MOTHER’S KNOWLEDGE AND BELIEFS ABOUT HOME MANAGEMENT FOR INFANT COLIC IN RAPARIN ADMINISTRATION

Abstract

BackgroundInfant colic is a difficult and complex experience for parents and infants in the first few months of their lives, which causes excessive crying and discomfort for infants as well as anxiety and distress for mothers. ObjectivesTo assess the level of information and beliefs that influence mothers regarding home management for reducing infant colic.  Materials and MethodsA cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in the Raparin administration from the period of 15 May 2022 to 15 July 2022. Participated mothers in this study was 245 who had one or more children and visited the hospital for treatment, the data was obtained through direct interview by questionnaire which included demographic characteristic, 15 items regarding information, 10 items about foods that cause infant colic and 17 items concerning to method used to eliminate infant colic. The data were analyzed through the SPSS program and the chi-square test was used to find the association. ResultsThe results demonstrate that the majority of mothers (47.6%) who participated were between in the age group (30-39) years old, followed by (75.9%) of mothers were living in urban places, and the majority of mothers (86.1%) were housewife. As well as it has also been revealed that mothers had good knowledge (81.7%) and concerning the beliefs (42.6%) of samples know practices used to reduce infant colic. Concerning significance, there was no significant association between the mother’s knowledge and their socio-demographic characteristics and there was a significant association between the mother’s beliefs and (occupational status) at p-value < 0.046. ConclusionThe mothers had good knowledge about infant colic and cultural influence still impacts mothers’ beliefs regarding home management for infant colic. Mothers’ knowledge had a non-significant association with their demographic features and a significant association between mother’s beliefs and their occupational status.