Galore International Journal of Health Sciences and Research Vol. 8; Issue: 4; Oct.-Dec. 2023 Website: www.gijhsr.com Original Research Article P-ISSN: 2456-9321 Galore International Journal of Health Sciences and Research (www.gijhsr.com) 1 Volume 8; Issue: 4; October-December 2023 Home Management of Fever in Under-Five Children: Knowledge, Attitude and Practice among Mothers Attending a Paediatric Outpatient Clinic in Port Harcourt, Nigeria Boma Awoala West 1 , Woroma Wonodi 2 , Gloria Nwosu 3 1,2,3 Department of Paediatrics, Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria 1,2,3 Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, College of Medical Sciences, Rivers State University, Nkpolu- Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, Nigeria Corresponding Author: Boma Awoala West DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/gijhsr.20230401 ABSTRACT Fever is a common problem in children especially in under-fives. Most fevers start outside the hospital thus management of fevers at home may limit complications from febrile illnesses. This study assessed mothers’ knowledge, attitude and practice of home management of fever in under-five children. It was a cross-sectional study and data was analyzed using SPSS version 23. Of 219 respondents, majority were of age group 31-40 years 114(52.1%) and of middle social class 56(50.0%). Most respondents correctly defined fever 165(75.3%), knew the causes of fever 149(68.0%), and the correct site of measurement using a thermometer 114(52.1%) but did not know high body thermometer 132(60.3%). Majority knew fever could be managed at home 184(84.0%) and was harmful 207(94.5%). The commonest source of information about fever was obtained from health workers/hospitals 118(54.9%). more than half of respondents had thermometers 141(64.4%), knew how to use it 136(62.1%) and would measure their child’s temperature at home if fever was suspected 161(73.5%). Most would monitor their child’s temperature at home 191(87.2%), would manage child’s fever at home 171(78.1%), would visit the hospital because of child’s fever 204(93.2%) and would do so within 2-3 days of onset of fever 59(40.1%). Only about a third of respondents had good knowledge (39.7%) and good practice (33.2%) on the home management of fever in children while about half (59.8%) had good attitude. Massive enlightenment campaigns on home management of fever should therefore be carried out so as to reduce complications that could arise from unduly high temperature at home. Key words: Knowledge, Attitude, Practice, Fever, Home management INTRODUCTION Fever is a common symptom of many diseases among children under the age of five years. [1,2] Fever is not just a common cause of concern among parents but a cause of frequent presentations in the hospital. [1-3] Fever is defined as a rectal temperature of ≥ 38 o C which is equivalent to an axillary temperature of 37.5 o C, and an oral temperature of 37.8 o C. [4] To the lay man fever is simply a rise in body temperature above the normal or hotness of the body. The causes of fever can be organized into four main categories: infectious, inflammatory, neoplastic and miscellaneous [4,5] and these produce fever by three different mechanisms: pyrogens, heat production exceeding heat loss, and defective heat loss. [3,4] Different methods can be used to assess fever - contact or non- contact. Contact method of assessing fever