title: Knowledge, attitude and behavior of mothers related to acute respiratory infections.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this paper was to evaluate the level of knowledge and general attitude to acute respiratory diseases and behavior of antibiotic usage and related factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 122 mothers of children between 2 and 16 years of age who applied the complaint of respiratory infections and experienced the respiratory infections previous year, to policlinics between January and May 2012. A survey form was used to evaluate the sociodemographic properties of the mothers, and the level of knowledge, attitude and behavior of mothers to childhood acute respiratory infections, fever and antibiotic use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the children, 58.1% applied with cough, and 40.9% applied with fever to the doctor. Before attendance 28.6% of mothers had used antibiotics and 27.8% antipyretics. The rate use of not prescribed antibiotics was 12.3%. Before medical evaluation of children, the use of a variety of traditional and alternative medical methods was at the high rate of 57.4%. The average attitude scores of mothers about the antibiotics use for acute respiratory infections fell into the category of being against antibiotic use and income level toward antibiotic use and a correlation between duration of mother's education against antibiotic use.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found that the level of knowledge of parents about medications used by their children was insufficient and there is a high percentage of non-prescription use of antibiotics. In low income and low education level of parents the use of antibiotics increased. Health workers must correctly inform parents about symptoms, course and medication. The effects of health education in the management of common diseases must be evaluated with studies.
authors.affiliation: Ayancik Family Health Center, Sinop, Turkey - draysegululudag@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Emel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Peker
authors.forename: Erkan M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Sahin
authors.forename: Naci
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Topaloğlu
authors.forename: Ayşegül
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Uludağ
authors.forename: Hasre
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ağaoğlu
authors.forename: Selen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Güngör
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058633:Antipyretics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004522:Educational Status; D005334:Fever / Q000188:drug therapy; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012651:Self Medication / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D058633:Antipyretics