KNOWLEDGE AND USE OF ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS FOR NEONATAL JAUNDICE

• Main Authors: Bruna Moretti Luchesi, Maria Isabel Ruiz Beretta, Giselle Dupas
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universidade Federal do Paraná 2010-09-01
• Series: Cogitare Enfermagem
• Subjects: Neonatal jaundice; Alternative Therapies; Mothers
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.5380/ce.v15i3.18896

Jaundice is a common harm in the neonatal period, and the phototherapy is the most used resource for treatment, although there are alternative treatments. To identify the maternal knowledge about alternative treatments and their use by mothers, we developed a qualitative research in a hospital in São Paulo. The participants included 26 mothers of newborns under phototherapy, the data was collected through interviews recorded and transcribed. Most knew some alternative treatment; reporting bathing prick, tile virgin, white-rose and sun exposure. Some of them reported previous use or intend to use them, as well as their perception on the effectiveness, or not, of alternative treatments. The results show the importance of interaction between the knowledge of mothers and health professionals, in order to improve care in the post-discharge period, the continuing treatment, and its prescription in cases of late onset of neonatal jaundice.