Abstract

ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND:
Exposure to mildly cold environment was considered to be the cause of many children illnesses during winter, or even during summer. Understanding these beliefs is essential for improving the care of children.
OBJECTIVE:
To find out in what ways mild exposure to a cold environment was believed to affect children health , and how did mothers respond.
METHODS:
Mothers of 200 children who brought their children to Al-Mansour Children Hospital , Baghdad, in the period Jan.1st to April 30th 2002 were interviewed to fill a questionnaire form about the harmful effect of mild cold exposure.
RESULTS:
The mothers held beliefs regarding mild cold exposure that ranged from causing coryza 96.5%, fever 96%, cough 94% , chest pain 85% , pneumonia 74% , to vomiting 88% , diarrhoea 95.5% and abdominal colic 94% . The sources of exposure described included : giving a bath, inadequate clothing , uncovering during sleep, walking barefooted , crawling on a cold floor , or taking a cold drink or food .
CONCLUSION:
These beliefs lead to improper care of children including over warning or over clothing, while distracting attention from useful measures like avoiding contact with infected persons or consumption of contaminated food or drink