title: Management of skin infections in Pacific children prior to hospitalisation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hospital admissions for childhood skin infections in New Zealand (NZ) are on the increase. Pacific children make up a high number of those who are admitted. This study describes the parents of Pacific children's understanding and management of skin sores in the home prior to the sores becoming infected and requiring hospital admission.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive qualitative approach combined with the Pacific research frameworks of Fa'afaletui and the Metaphor of Kakala were used to elicit parents' understanding and management of children's skin sores in the home. The semi-structured interviews were conducted in English or Samoan, and all transcribed into English.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mothers of 11 Pacific children admitted with skin infections between 2006 and 2008 were interviewed. The children's infections started with insect bites in some cases. Parents actively sought treatment to ensure children's optimal health was maintained. Initial management included a 'watch and see' approach for some, until deterioration was noted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first known study in New Zealand that has captured children's experiences when sustaining a skin infection/s and the activities that took place while seeking treatment in the community. Although most of the children received medical attention in primary health care (PHC), this did not prevent the need for hospital admission. The acuteness and seriousness of children's health on admission shows that preventive efforts need to increase and the early management of infections in PHC settings needs to be better understood.
authors: Hutt Valley DHB, PB 31907 Lower Hutt 5040, New Zealand. ete_rasch@xtra.co.nz
authors: Elaine
authors: E
authors: Ete-Rasch
authors: Katherine
authors: K
authors: Nelson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D054626:Consumer Health Information / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology; D006701:Home Nursing / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D006760:Hospitalization; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008519:Medicine, Traditional / Q000379:methods; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D011320:Primary Health Care; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012874:Skin Diseases, Infectious / Q000208:ethnology / Q000628:therapy; D000095188:Pacific Island People