[Maternal health knowledge and its use in pediatrics in primary care].
OBJECTIVE
To find the nature of the relationship between the general level of mothers' health knowledge and the over-use of paediatric facilities at the Primary Care level.


METHODS
A crossover study with a control group. SITE. Zaidin-Sur Health Centre (Granada).


METHODS
We selected all the over-users (69) of a Paediatric office and compared them to a random sample, grouped by age, of normal users (82); n = 151.


RESULTS
To control confusion, we measured a total of 31 variables, grouped as to need, predisposition and expediting factors. After validating the scales, the average scores for general health understanding and the score for clinical attitudes and knowledge were significantly lower in the over-user group (p = 0.017 and p = 0.000). The scale for attitudes to and knowledge of prevention did not attain any importance (p = 0.104). We worked out a model of multiple logistical regression which included in the equation the scale of clinical attitudes and knowledge (p less than 0.005).


CONCLUSIONS
We emphasised the importance of mothers' health knowledge to the question of over-use of paediatric facilities. It is desirable to attempt to intervene on this question in order to lessen excessive use of health facilities.
Sánchez Ruiz-Cabello
F J
FJ
Centro de Salud Zaidín-Sur, Unidad Docente de Medicina Familiar y Comunitaria de Granada.
Bellón Saameño
J A
JA
Castillo Castillo
R
R
D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D009035:Mothers; D010372:Pediatrics; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013030:Spain
Cultura sanitaria materna y utilización pediátrica en atención primaria.